Merweville, Karoo, Western Cape
Merweville, Karoo, Western Cape
“Jy Is Okey (Psalm 23)” began as a prayer you don’t always know how to say out loud. It’s the honest moment when you sit under the stars and realize: on the outside everything looks fine, but inside there’s a storm. Not always a dramatic crisis—more often a quiet exhaustion, the feeling that you’ve had to be strong for too long. And the Karoo is the perfect place for that conversation with God, because the wide open spaces don’t close you in; they open you up.
In your thoughts, the years roll past like a film: the beautiful days, the rough days, and the days you wish you never climbed out of bed. Your mind replays the “if only” and “what if” decisions—things you’d do differently, things you can’t undo, and moments that still grab at your throat. You may be sitting still, but your inner world is running.
Yet this song doesn’t end in brokenness. It is a Psalm 23 song, which means the heart of it is this: God is near, God leads, God carries. The turning point is a truth many people only learn through experience—God holds my hand, not the other way around. If it depended on our grip alone, many of us would have let go long ago. But His grip is stronger.
When thoughts start spiralling and the chest tightens, the song returns to a choice: “Be still and focus on Him.” Not a quick fix, but a return to the One who gives life and stays. That’s where the Karoo and Psalm 23 meet—in the silence, you begin to hear again. Even when I don’t feel okay, God can still speak the truest thing over me: “Jy is okey.”
ISRC Number: QZHNA2669739
Lyrics & story: Dirk Koen • Vocal: AI-assisted instrument • Production: Dirk Koen
Psalm 23:1–4; 2 Corinthians 12:9
Psalm 23 is the foundation of this song: even in the darkest valley, God is near—He leads and protects. “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” is not childish comfort; it is guidance and protection in a hard world. The strength of the song is God’s grip: when I am tired, I don’t hold Him perfectly—He holds me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 deepens the hope: God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness. That is why He can whisper, “You are okay,” even when I don’t feel okay.
Intro
O Here, ek sit vanaand onder U Karoo sterrelig,
van buite lyk ek okéy, maar net U weet hoe dit regtig is,
want diep binne in my hart brand daar vrae wat ek skaars kan noem in lig.
Verse 1
Hier waar ek so alleen sit met my eie stormgedagtes,
rol die lewensjare deur my kop soos ou rolprente in stadige skakels.
Die mooi, die rof, die dae wat ek wens ek liewer in die bed moes bly,
al die “as en maar”-besluite wat my nog steeds soms vinnig by die keel kom gryp.
Chorus
Maar U stok en U staf, dié vertroos my,
U hou my hand, al wil my eie greep soms gly.
Al voel ek nie okéy nie, sê U stil:
“Jy is veilig hier by My.”
Verse 2
As my gedagtes weer begin warboel en my bors raak styf,
fluister ek vir my siel: “Raak net stil en fokus op Hom wat lewe gee en bly.”
Dankie dat U my hand vashou en nie andersom, my Heer,
want op my eie sou ek U al baie keer gelos het juis waar ek U die nodigste het, ek sweer.
Chorus (repeat)
Ja, U stok en U staf, dié vertroos my,
U laat my nie val in die dal van my eie vrees en klei.
Al voel ek binne in my nie okéy, sê U:
“My kind, jy’s nog steeds Myne.”
Bridge
Dae lyk soms vaal en droog, soos Karoo grond sonder reën,
maar U toets my nooit bo my vermoëns nie – U plan loop verder as wat ek kan sien of verstaan.
As dit van my afhang, het ek lankal opgegee,
maar U laat nog steeds nie my hand gaan.
Outro
Hier waar Karoo stilte weerkaats oor ooptes onder U hemelblou,
weet ek: U is met my, U behoed en bewaar my, al voel ek self nog half gebou.
Ek loof en prys U, want al voel ek nie okéy nie, sê U: “Jy is okey” –
en U stok en U staf bly met my hou.