Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:23-27

Among some of our children’s favorite books was The Berenstain Bears and The Spooky Old Tree. Always up for an adventure, the three Berenstain Bear cubs decide to explore The Spooky Old Tree at night. “One with a light. One with a stick. One with a rope,” they bravely enter the old, dark tree until one fright after another fright causes panic and fear until they are scared and running home. The closing pages of the book pictures Mama Bear clutching her little bears safely in her arms and the words “Three little bears running fast. Home again. Safe at last.”  

This same fascination and fear have marked the night hours for generations. We have all experienced those little sounds that go thump, bump and creak during the midnight hours when we are deep in sleep, causing our heart to race a bit faster. For most of mankind’s history, the night has been terrifying and unnerving. The words of an old traditional Scottish prayer express the fears of the night and the unknown.

“From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”

The words are strange to our ears but the focus on God for protection still pulls us into His arms. It is in the midst of the darkness we experience forced vulnerability and trust. The physical night beckoned people inside to the safety of their homes as a time of quiet rest waiting for the break of a new day. Now as then, the darkness reminds us of our dependence upon God.

Physically we hear the “bumps in the night” but we hear them also spiritually. In the last few decades, with the advent of electricity, the world has been flooded with light and 24-7 noise. We can now banish the physical darkness with artificial light, extending our days. We extend the light in hopes we can reduce the vulnerability that we feel in the dark. However much in the same way that we try to escape the physical darkness, we attempt to remove the spiritual darkness with superficial light. Trish Harrison Warren writes. “Instead of sitting in the discomfort of vulnerability, we run to alcohol, work, social media, movies, entertainment, even political debate.”

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 77 that, “When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.” Through the course of the night as he prays and seeks God, he does come to the realization, “But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember…” At this point, the Psalmist is able to finally move from the darkness to the light proclaiming, “O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?”

We will never find in our artificial spiritual light that which gives meaning to our souls. Only in the pure light that radiates from Jesus will we find the light to walk without fear, face the unknown and rest in his presence. “Sleep is a daily, enfleshed reminder that it’s God, not us, who is the maker and mover of all our lives. Practices of prayer, like the practice of sleep, are a way to enter a posture of resting in God in the face of our utter frailty, with no promise of how or when morning will come.” (Warren)

“Compline” is the last prayer for the night within the church traditions that emphasizes the various times of prayer during the day. The prayer from The Book of Common Prayer reminds us of our dependence upon God as we prepare for the night:

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.”

“Yes, there will come a day when the darkness is finally gone, the gates of the city are kept open and no evil will be in the city. No longer will we face the dark waiting for morning. So, for now, we rest in the calm assurance that, “The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.” (Psalm 121:5)

God is great

Pastor Lynn