Reflections On A Dark Night

(The blog you’re about to read was written around 3 AM in a hotel room overlooking Tampa Bay, Florida.)

Darkness fills the night…the moon is nowhere to be seen. . .a few lights reflect in the water. . .hides the depths of dangers unseen. Yet there is a certain peace. . .not in the shadows of the landscape but in His presence.

Lord, I feel the calming effect of your presence . . .a comforting strength in knowing that everything is under your control and the direction of principles you’ve established in your Word.

When it seems that everything around me is crazy or without rhyme or reason. . .you are the One constant. . .the only thing that makes sense or offers a way of escape from the burdens of daily life.

You provide a place of shelter from the shelling of the enemy’s onslaught.

Even as I look out into the darkness of the night. . .seeing my reflection in the window in front of me. . .I see lights in the distant through my own reflection. Through the darkness of my every situation even including my own mind. . .you bring the light. . .the light in the midst of all darkness.

There is an eerie calm. . .a peace in knowing that even when I can’t see what’s in front of me. . .You can. A peace in knowing that you are the ever-present reality of what is and isn’t.  

I love you, Lord.

Even at moments. . .when I’m not sure. . .you always are. You are the constant in my life. . .the night. . .the day. . .the universe. You never change. . .and I rejoice that you never change your opinion of how much you love me. . .even when I have been unlovely.

Thank you for the peace you bring. . .for the light in the night that you offer. . .for the comfort in turmoil. . .the promise of peace and prosperity. . .thank you for how you love and adore me. . .thank you that when I look out and can’t see you. . .I nevertheless know that you’re there.

Here are seven reasons why I know you’re there.

First, you say you are.

Psalm 139:8 in the New Living Translation says:

“If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.”

Whether on earth or above the earth. . .there is a strength beyond might in knowing that you are always there. Your presence changes every situation. . .known and unknown.

I know you’re there because your presence determines how I act and react to everything around me and within me.

Exodus 33:16

“How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

John 14:3 says:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

He’s always where you are.

Second, I feel your presence.

I know you’re there because I feel the joy of your presence.

Acts 2:28 in the New Living Translation says:

“You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.”

There is a joy in knowing . . . your presence brings peace and protection . . .plus so much more.

Psalm 139:5 in the Message Bible says:

“You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence.

I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful—I can't take it all in!”

Third, I sense your calm.

The peaceful reflection of a few condominium lights in the water in front of me reveals a peace. . .a stillness from movement. The steadiness of the lights reflected in the calmness of the water reveal a peaceful presence without the winds that can turn the bay choppy and power in waves now tranquil.   So our Heavenly Father brings calm to our lives amidst the turbulence that we sometimes face.

At times, people disturb the calm that He desires for our lives.

Jonah 1:12 says:

“And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.”

You may encounter people who interrupt your calm. . .they may even be people called of God. . .like Jonah. . .but you may find the only way you get peace is to remove them from your lives.

Whether it’s people or storms caused by the events of daily living . . .even those beyond your control. . .always know that He calms the troubled waters that are pounding your position.

Psalm 107:29 says:

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”

Fourth, only He can bring order to the darkness.

God will always rescue us from the darkness. . .it’s who He is and what He does.

Colossians 1:13 in the New Living Translation says:

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.”

When you need to be removed from the darkness. . .the evil of this world. . .just call on Him.

Galatians 1:4 in the New Living Translation says:

“Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.”

Fifth, I have a safe haven to turn to.

When a good guy tells a bad guy that he has no place to run. . .it makes good theatric drama. . .however, such a statement is spiritually inaccurate.

Proverbs 18:10 says:

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Even if you feel like you’ve lost your way in the darkness. . .He will lead you to a safe place in His presence.

Psalm 143:1-3 in the New Living Translation says:

“Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.”

Sixth, I feel hope even in the darkness of the night.

As I’m typing these words. . .night is beginning to break into the day. I can now see what I knew was there all along. He always brings hope even in our darkest hour.

Psalm 31:24 in the New Living Translation says:

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

Our hope of the darkness turning into the light is from Him.

John 12:46 says:

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”

Psalm 119:114

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”

Jesus came that we would never again have to walk in the darkness.”

Seventh, I know that I know that you will never leave nor forsake me.

Truthfully I think one verse says it all.

Hebrews 13:5 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”

With His Word and the passage of time. . .the darkness will lift just as surely as day follows night. I have been sitting here for nearly two hours. . .now things are clearer in the light of day.