Reflections at Night

Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. — Psalm 4:8

Sleep—it is a precious commodity. When my children were small I slept with one ear tuned to the pitch of their voices. I would marvel at how my husband could sleep undisturbed through the persistent wails of a newborn and the fevered cries of a toddler.

Years later, when the teenagers drove into the driveway one minute before curfew, I was listening for the crunch of the gravel under the tires. I looked forward to the day when my nightly vigilance would end and I could sleep undisturbed.

Now with my husband overseas the night can be a time when hidden thoughts become amplified. I wake every two hours and unspoken fears tumble out. I am like the ailing man in Psalm 102:7: “I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a housetop.”

As I read through this Psalm I identify with his laments. But even in the midst of his illness and fears the psalmist calls upon the name of the Lord: “Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to You. Do not hide Your face from me when I am in distress. Turn Your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.” — Psalm 102:1,2

And so in those lonely dark hours when I miss my husband’s warmth, I pray—prayers for safety and for rest. I pray that he will sleep soundly and carry on his work in difficult situations. And soon I find myself drifting back to sleep and sweeter dreams.

We all have times or situations that make the separation more acute. And we need to sometimes voice how badly we feel. But let’s not stop voicing the rest of the story—and call upon God to hear our cries for help whether in the middle of the night or when the washing machine breaks.

Now when I wake up during those lonely and dark nighttime hours, I have decided to use them as a time for focused prayer with no distractions (which is also a precious commodity). The night can be a time of peace and prayerful supplication . . . and I look forward to the times when I can cuddle next to him asleep and hear the sound of his snoring, even if it keeps me awake!

Questions to Share:

1. What could you pray to God for tonight, if you cannot sleep or are awakened with fears?

2. How could your spouse pray to God for you tonight? Be sure and share that.