Jesus Never Fails

words and music by Doug Howell
© Bud John Songs (orig Lexicon Music, Inc.) • Used by permission

Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
I’ve got a friend
who won’t ever forsake me
Jesus never fails

Jesus never fails me when I need Him
Jesus never fails
I’ve got a friend
who won’t ever forsake me
oh, Jesus never fails

He gives me songs in the night
when the sleep won’t come
He holds me tight
when all my other friends are sleeping
He hears me when I’m weeping
with lullabies so sweet,
with love, He bids my sorrows cease
with hands that knew the pain of nails
He wipes the tears away

oh, Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
I’ve got a friend
who won’t ever forsake me
Jesus never fails

Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
I’ve got a friend
who won’t ever forsake me
Jesus never fails

Reviews

(1981 version) Sorry, Doug Howell, I know you have a newer remixed version of this I am guessing you’d rather people listen to, but for those of us who received the gift of being with you during the “oldies” time, this is the version I love. OMG those orchestrations, your voice, and the lyrics! Those sounds got copied and used so many times (poorly) that I get that now to today’s ears they can sound cheesy (and conjure up visions of a much younger Cher gliding across the half-lit stage in a slinky dress) but if you can put aside the taint of all those *not well done* imitations and just listen to this as we first heard it pouring out of speakers with the connection of  live orchestra and electronics and your heart to heaven, I assure you it is still a lifting experience! —Kathleen M. W.

Back in about ’82 I took a sign language class at Augie and we each had to sign a song. “Jesus Never Fails” was mine. —Karol G.

One of my favorite songs ever, Doug! Thank you for posting it today… I remembered every word!!! —Bobbie S. C.

I have sung it many times, too. Since you posted this, I decided to take a little trip down memory lane and listen to a bunch of your songs (the newer ones, too). Music is amazing – it transports us back to those places where we connected to it, so I have a dizzying array of memories of you singing at First Lutheran in Columbia Heights, both performing and writing new songs. You voice drips with emotions, which is what I (and I am sure many others) really relate to with you. [Did I almost end your singing career when oversinging injured your vocal chords?]. And of course, the best time is when you sang at Carol’s and my wedding – can you believe that was 39 years ago? Love you, Doug! —Randy T.

One of my favorite songs ever, Doug! Thank you for posting it today… I remembered every word!!! I have always said that [your] voice attracted me because of the great emotion with which [you] sang. (I heard pain in [your] vocals, if that makes sense.)—Diane S.

This is forever my favorite, brother! —Doreen G.

One of my all time favorites. Plugged or unplugged —Ralph H.

I’m definitely planning on singing this beautiful song at my church in the future. Though I don’t play piano, thought about playing my guitar. Then I think, nah! This is meant to have piano hands down!! I will recruit somebody as there are plenty of pianists there! Love this song, Doug and I still remember how the GNC touched my very soul in Jesus name! —Keith D.

This song brings back fond memories from my college years in music ministry. Thank you for the music, Doug! —Jay E.

Oh my, this takes me back! Valparaiso University in 1980 or 81. Excited about finding your music again! —Jennifer L.-P.

(2019 version) Oh, my….that took me right back to GNC in Sturgis in 1976! Always loved that song…perfect for your voice. Are there a few minor changes to the original? Your voice has just stayed so beautiful….love it! —Katie C.

This song saved my life. In college my sophomore year I was falling a part. I started with 17 credits. Dropped 2 classes. Was flunking English and barely passing a theology class. I was a mess and suicidal. I lived on the 5 floor of the dorm and had the window open and was standing on the ledge to end it all. I even figured I could land in the dumpster and no one would have to clean up the mess. All of a sudden I heard a voice say “Don’t jump”. I turned no one was there. I came off the window sill sobbing. Not knowing what to do but just so lost, depressed, and broken. I had Singer in the King service LP on my turn table set for 33 rpm. And for some reason the stylist arm went over like it was a 45 rpm record. It landed right on “Jesus Never Fails.” To this day when I think of your song it makes me short of breath and brings a tear to my eye and reminds me we have a Jesus who is always with us even in the crap of life. I will never ever forget God and you touching me in that moment and saving my life. —Roger A.

A story: in the summer of 1986 – I spent 9 weeks in Taiwan as a short-term missionary. I was a college student at that time. Of the many things I did that summer in Taiwan – I would travel to a different city each Sunday – to a Christian church – preaching, sharing my testimony, and singing “Jesus Never Fails” (Your song) in Chinese, and using whatever piano was available. I had to learn the translation and I am sorry I don’t have that written down. Your post took me back to those days and it reminds me how influential your music was and has been in my life! What a blessing and thank you for sharing! —Jon A.

What memories that song bring back. My favorite!!! —Julie M. L.

My all-time favorite! —John K.

I love this song! I listen to it all the time, and it always gives me hope. So simple, but so powerful! Thank you for your music. JohnNoZ34 on YouTube

Best song ever. Kind of an anthem for this hipocrate. First heard this album in the late 70s at Bible college. Lost my cassette 20 years ago. Thank you for posting (many of the views are mine 15-20) —@rwbrwb1095 on YouTube

This song touched my heart way back in 1979, so much so that the lyrics stuck with me for over 40 years. It was never on the radio (that I Know of). Just on a cassette I listened to while sitting in a Christian book store. Despite my best efforts I could never locate it…until today. I was a student at UNC in Greeley, Colorado back in 1979. I don’t remember the name of the Christian bookstore. I really like the 2019 version of the song. But to be honest, I’m also truly blessed by the youthful sincerity of the original in the “We are His People” songbook recording. BTW I was a music major back in the day and went on to travel for five summers as a director with the Continental Singers and Orchestra. —ewrockford on YouTube

Doug has a way of fnding a place in one’s heart. I, too, met him 40+ years ago and never forgot the honesty and heart in his songs. I decided to do an internet search just today – after all these years – and am simply DELIGHTED to have found him. I’m equally delighted that he’s still at it. Keep touching lives, Doug! —Michael E. on YouTube

I somehow managed to have missed this until today. This is my favorite version of my favorite song of yours. It is probably my favorite Christian song of all time, Doug. —Diane S. on YouTube

I first met Doug in 1981 after one of his “coffee house” concerts. The Holy Spirit touched me through this song in a way that has stayed with me all these years! It’s so incredible to hear this pure and simple version and to still be moved. —John K. on YouTube

Jj —@joycehowell3697 on YouTube

2023 Notes

Like I said in my notes on “Hard To Get,” I’ve had a few dark nights of the soul myself. This song was born on one of those nights, and I’ve often felt it was my “life song”—something I was born to do—and I ended many, many a concert with this song.

Some have told me that hearing the song was a pivotal moment for them, that it led them to God, or led them back to God, or kept them from jumping out a window. One thing I know is that it was a gift to me, and lifted me out of a very dark despair. Yes, and maybe kept me from jumping out a metaphorical window. Not surprising, I guess, since God reaching into your life is always a big deal. The biggest, in fact.

Anyway, as many of you know, I’ve recorded this song three times: on the Good News Circle’s We Are His People album; on my Singer… album; and finally, by request, in an “unplugged” single version (see 2019 Notes below). I intended that last recording to be the last, but because of my struggling newbie engineering status at the time, I’ve never been quite happy with how it came out. And you do want to be happy with your life song. So I decided to try a new mix in the hopes I could finally move on, and leave it to do whatever work God had in mind for it to do.

I hope it lifts you up and pivots you in the right direction—whether you find yourself in a dark pit or not. And I’m thankful for the chance to share with you yet again what are still the three truest words of my life: Jesus never fails.

2019 Notes

“Jesus Never Fails.” These three amazing words are right up there with “Jesus Loves Me.” I can still remember clearly the night this song wound its way around my heart. It was a great comfort to me then—and still is today.

I was with Good News Circle at the time, and sang this song at many of our crusades. Later that same year, it was included on the group’s album, We Are His People (1976). I did a string arrangement for that version, and then did a fuller orchestral arrangement when I recorded the song again a few years later on Singer in the King’s Service.

Through the years, I ended almost every concert with this song, and there’ve been times when I felt I was put on this earth to write it. To judge by listener responses, it touched more people than any of my others. After the second orchestral recording, I often had requests for an “unplugged” version, and have long planned to do one if I ever could.

When I realized I’d have to sell the Kawai grand before we moved to Hawai‘i, I thought about this song, and recorded the piano part to bring with me. I finally added the vocal at the end of last year.

I thought it would be really hard to do a piano-only version, but it hasn’t been. In fact, I think it might turn out to be my favorite. The basic arrangement just seems to fit the simple, personal truth of the words—and the hurt that gave birth to them.

I pray it may bless you richly, and always remind you of the Friend who never forsakes. Jesus never fails!

2007 Notes

My sister, Doreen, read a devotional passage based on Joshua 1:1–9 to my Dad not long before he died. Joshua 1:9 goes something like this: “Be strong and courageous. Don’t tremble or be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. He will never fail you or forsake you.” (I know, that last bit isn’t from Joshua, it’s from Hebrews, but I’ve gotten into the habit of quoting those verses together. I used to introduce this song by quoting those two verses together every time I performed it in concert.)

Anyway, Doreen thought Dad was sleeping while she was reading all this, but as soon as she finished, he squeezed her hand and said, “I have to have courage to make it through all this, don’t I? God is beside me now to help me, right? Can we pray now?” When Doreen stood up to take his other hand, he pulled her close in one of the tightest hugs she ever remembers, and he prayed. You would think he would have prayed for himself, for relief from the pain and the cancer that was gripping his body tighter each day, but he didn’t. He thanked God for all his blessings, for us kids, for bringing us to Florida safely, and for the time we’d had to visit him, and for Mom. Then he said, “Goodbye God, talk to you tomorrow.”

The way you can depend on your parents, you can depend on God. But much more so. You can’t even depend on your parents not to leave you. Not your brothers and sisters, not your doggies, not your friends. Not your spouse. Nobody can ever say to another, “I will never leave you.” No one except God. How amazingly blessed we are that the one and only Person who can say that to us does.

The hymn writer put it this way: “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I’ll never, no never desert to its foes. That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.” (“How Firm a Foundation,” lyrics by John Rippon, 1787)

1979/1981 Notes

If I had to leave with the world only one song, I would probably choose this one. In all my life I have never known three truer words: Jesus never fails.

Everything in my life changes. Dreams and disappointments change place so fast it leaves me bewildered and grasping at straws. But through all the inconstancy and instability there’s one thing that remains eternally unchanged: the deep, deep love and faithfulness of God in Christ Jesus.

I have chosen to follow Him. He will never fail me or forsake me.