The Shadows of the Evening Hours

This quiet and reflective evening hymn expresses the calm trust of a believer who ends the day in the peace of God. Adelaide A. Procter uses the imagery of shadows lengthening at evening to draw the heart toward prayer and rest. The hymn invites worshipers to lay aside the cares and burdens of the day and to find renewed confidence in the Lord’s protection through the night. Its tone is gentle and devotional, encouraging a spirit of gratitude for God’s sustaining grace. The reference to Psalm 4:8, which speaks of lying down in peace because the Lord alone makes His people dwell in safety, captures the very heart of the hymn. Procter’s words remind believers that each day, with all its work and weariness, is safely enclosed within the care of God. The hymn has long been used for evening worship and personal devotion because it blends poetic beauty with the simple assurance that God keeps watch over His children as day turns to night.