Short Days and Long NIghts

I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:1-5 NLV).

December brings short days and long nights for us. And, with the temperatures dropping into the low twenties it seems as if the nights are even longer than they really are! There is a spiritual thought that emerges from this natural truth. Some years ago my youngest son’s friend’s mother died in a tragic manner. She was murdered in her front yard after coming home from work one evening. It was a very trying time for that family. It is a time of “longer darkness.” In the season of longer darkness, faith’s fire doesn’t burn as bright and its moments of shining don’t last as long. Life is much more a struggle and faith is very much a battle with our will. It occurred to me that there ought to be some words of comfort and hope that might be gained from an understanding of the natural world as understood in light of the Scripture.

In the physical season of longer nights, there are surprising moments of joy and delight, things like: the refreshing chill in the air after a long hot summer; or the beauty of a cold clear night where the world sparkles under a full moon; or the purifying clean and the soft hushed tones of new fallen snow; as well as the opportunity for more rest during the longer nights. In much the same way, God brings us blessings in the spiritual season of longer darkness. Because life is more a struggle and the spiritual dimensions of our life are more a battle, we often miss these touches of grace, these surprising moments of joy and delight. However, if we look closely we will find them. While sometimes overworked, the little poem “Footprints” still resonates within our hearts because we have found its message true. God does join us in the darkest parts of our season of longer darkness. In truth, in the darkest of those days in this long season, he carries us and sustains in many ways. He sends a friend to help with an encouraging word or a needed rebuke. He supplies increased strength to weather our raging nighttime storms. He prevents an unseen attack from the evil one when we are most vulnerable. He answers hundreds of our prayers even though the one we most want seems to remain unaddressed. He speaks to us through his Spirit in the songs we sing with other believers and the words of Scripture when we open ourselves to his word. He pours his love into our hearts through his Spirit and strengthens us in ways we cannot know in response to the prayers of others on our behalf.

So hold on if you are in the longer season. And if you are not, find someone who is, and help point them to the Light until their darkness passes. There is joy coming in the morning light!