From evening to morning, we have slept through the night in his love.  From morning to evening, we are kept in his sight and can shove aside that which illegitimately grasps our attention in order to rest in him through each waking hour ahead.

From the rush of busy days into borderlands of nighttime hush, we are held again in the creative care of God at work on our behalf.  We are reset in body and soul with a daily reminder that every breath we take, whether waking or sleeping, is gift. In the blessing of sleep, we are set adrift from the moorings of our own conscious attempts to direct the affairs of our lives and are made aware that much of life is beyond our control.

Sleepy lack of discernment regarding his continual presence to make sense of the turmoil all about may cause much stress, but the lessons of dependence which bring us through the night re-light our way to bring us peace in Christ.

“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.”  (Psalm 3: 5)

Like a small child at ease in the comfort of a parent’s love, we are carried by grace. Like a pillar of fire from heaven above, God protects us with secure belonging to hasten quiet inner strength renewed each night to face the day though armies encamp behind us and deep seas loom large ahead of us.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the LORD wathes over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.’ (Psalm 127: 1-2)

Could we use a rest?  A good night’s sleep in the questions and quandaries we face?

I’m sure we’ve all seen how ego may at times work to sell us a version of creating effective leadership which involves a lack of humble rest in the God who brings us through the night.  We are at times lured to take double shifts remaining wide-eyed in the glow of special accomplishments seeking accolades for what we’ve built, accomplices to self deceit that we are somehow bringing things to pass when all along it is his Spirit bending near to light the light of Christ in all we are and do in his name.

Depending on ourselves, or depending on him is a night and day experience.

‘Lord, help us close our eyes to worldly praise; to rest from our broken past which never wants to be put down and seeks to somehow prove itself day after day; to let fatigue and fear of failure give way to sailing through the nighttime of concerns in peaceful trust that you will carry us to the other side of chaos into the perfect ordering of your will as those who desire to be faithful servants in both darkness and light.  

An evensong of trust thrusts forth a morning song of waking grace in all we are and do. Should eyelids close in anxious thought, help us remember we have been bought, chosen, and adopted as your own to fall asleep in you, dreaming of the day we rest forevermore.  Amen.’