The Empty Chair Next To Me

Life has a way of placing burdens on our shoulders that were never meant to be carried alone. We all face seasons of regret, loss, uncertainty, loneliness, and pain. There are nights when the house is quiet, the world seems far away, and we're left alone with our thoughts, wondering how we're going to make it through another day. For many of us, those moments happen around a kitchen table, behind a steering wheel, beside a hospital bed, or in the silence of a sleepless night. This song was born from that place. "The Empty Chair Next To Me" is a reminder that no matter how heavy the load becomes, we don't have to carry it by ourselves. Jesus never promised a life without struggles, but He did promise that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He stands ready to help shoulder our burdens, offer His peace, and walk beside us through every storm if we'll simply invite Him in. My prayer is that this song brings comfort to anyone who feels overwhelmed, forgotten, or alone. And if you're carrying something heavy today, I hope it reminds you that there is One who loves you more than you can imagine, and He's been right there beside you all along. — Keith Michael Rau "THE EMPTY CHAIR NEXT TO ME" By: Keith Michael Rau Verse One Pulled into the driveway pushing half past ten Another long day I can't get back again Killed the engine, sat there staring through the glass At all the years behind me and how fast they've passed Some wounds don't fade with time, they just sink beneath the skin Then show up in the silence when the night comes rolling in I carried more than I should've, trying to hide all the strain But some loads get a lot heavier when you're pulling them in vain Chorus I brought a heart full of questions And regrets I couldn't leave The kind that show up after midnight When the whole world falls asleep I thought I needed answers To every broken piece of me But the answer I'd been searching for Was sitting right next to me Verse Two I thought about the bridges that I wished I'd never burned And all the hard-headed lessons a man lives long enough to learn The words I should've spoken, the chances I let go The miles I spent looking for things I already know The house was still and quiet, not a sound for miles around Just a tired man and his memories trying not to drag him down That's when I bowed my head and whispered, "Lord, I'm hanging on" And the weight I'd carried all those years didn't feel quite so strong Chorus I brought a heart full of questions And regrets I couldn't leave The kind that show up after midnight When the whole world falls asleep I thought I needed answers To every broken piece of me But the answer I'd been searching for Was sitting right next to me Bridge Then it hit me at that table where I'd worn the finish thin I wasn't sitting by myself the way I'd always thought I'd been Through every prayer, every failure, every battle I had fought The answer wasn't something new, it was Someone I had sought Final Chorus I brought a heart full of questions And regrets I couldn't leave The kind that show up after midnight When the whole world falls asleep I thought I needed answers To every broken piece of me Then I glanced across the table And realized Who'd been right next to me Outro And when the night comes rolling in And the world won't let me be I find peace in knowing Jesus is right next to me The chair may still look empty To anybody else who sees But I know who's sitting there In that empty chair next to me ©2026 Keith Michael Rau All Rights Reserved.