Night is supposed to be a time of rest. However, for those struggling with anxiety, insomnia, or grief, the night may be anything but restful. It can feel dark and endless. At times life itself might feel like an endless night; the narrow road feels too perilous to travel much longer, and our path grows so dim we fear we might fall.
You Are Not Alone
Dear friends, take heart. This darkness is not foreign to the Christian’s journey. Countless saints have walked this road of darkness before you, myself included. I have feared rest would never come to me again. I have worried that grief and anxiety would consume me. I have spent many dark nights praying God would be near me and that the shadows would not silence my faith.
Even the great theologian, Charles Spurgeon, was known to suffer long seasons of darkness. He once said, “I note that some whom I greatly love and esteem, who are, in my judgement, among the very choicest of God’s people, nevertheless, travel most of the way to heaven by night.”
It is in these long nights that God meets us. It is in this place of darkness that we learn to look to Jesus even when it feels as if we cannot see. But how do we look to Jesus in the darkness? Where can we find Him? It might feel impossible to seek His face when we have no light, but we’re called to do hard things.
Though our eyes may be tired and worn, we must open His word. We must turn to the psalms and read of His heart toward the restless and weary. Friends, He keeps count of our tossing and turning. He puts our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8).
Through the sleepless nights, He sees us.
He is near.
He never leaves.
The Light of Hope
Oh, the hope of morning. Though the night is dark, joy truly comes with the dawn (Psalm 30:5). With the rising of the sun, His mercies are new (Lamentations 3:22-23), and his grace is sufficient for another day (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Never forget that life passes in seasons. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Though for a little while darkness and weariness may prevail, God promises us rest, and His promises always come to pass.
Friends, may the rising of the sun always remind us of the Son who has risen. He defeated darkness on the cross. He will be our rest.
I love these words from the Sovereign Grace song, “Glory in the Darkest Place”:
“You came to make your blessings known
And bear our curse of death alone.
You came to share our suffering,
So in our sorrow we could sing
Glory, glory, glory in the darkest place.”
In the midst of our darkness there exists this peculiar glory. Because Christ died to give us life, the darkness can never fully envelop us. Jesus shared our suffering. He knows. He understands. His glory lingers even in the longest of nights, compelling us to raise our feeble voices in song.
Because of Jesus, we can sing amid the sorrow.
Because he lives, we find glory in the darkest places.
Press into these promises in the night! Our God is so faithful. As Micah 7:8 says, “When I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.”
You Will Be Made New
Not only will He be a light to us, He will also make us new. In the dark night, God is doing a work in us. He is sanctifying us. He is refining us. As Job 23:10 says, “For You know the way that I take. When You have tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Dear friends, what if this darkness is a means to a greater end? What if, when the shadows finally lift, you come out as gold?
Maybe you are reading this in the middle of a long night. Maybe you fear the darkness will assail you. Look to Jesus. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Though our eyes may be deprived of rest for a season, we can always find rest for our souls in Christ. Share on XHe is for you.
His heart toward you is gentleness and steadfast love.
He is always good.
