Tom Barnard

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.”

(Lamentations 3:22, 23)

“Then, Lord—

Then grant me the enabling grace to believe without feeling

To know without seeing

To clasp Your invisible hand

And wait with invincible trust

For the morning.”

(Ruth Harms Calkin, in Tell Me Again, Lord, I Forget)

Bad things happen at night. The frequency of car accidents increases after dark. Things go “bump” in the night. Scary tales are woven into the fabric of darkness. People lose their way at night. For those who do not believe in life after death, midnight has to be the most hopeless hour of the day or night.

But for the Christian, God’s grace functions flawlessly day or night and is fresh every morning. Dawn brings hope for a better day. Sunrise tells of new birth and fruitful growth. In The Revelation, the Apostle John describes a city where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (21:4). The New Jerusalem is a place that shines “with the glory of God, and its brilliance (is) like that of a very precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal” (21:11). John describes how the Holy City will be illuminated: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (21:23). Forever.

The prayer of Ruth Harms Calkin, above, speaks to me today. My goal is to believe without feeling, to know without seeing, to clasp God’s hand, and to wait with trust…for the morning.

Heavenly Father, I pray today for those who are going through one of life’s dark times, where the sun doesn’t shine brightly and where the nights are endless. I pray that you will help them understand that it’s always darkest before the dawn, and that your compassions for them are fresh every day. Lift their vision to see what You see. Encourage them to turn to You for help. Calm their hearts today, and let them hear what the disciples heard Jesus say, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In the powerful Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.