Inclinations of the mind, heart, and soul that bend in the opposite direction of God’s peace as darkness begins its descent upon a day’s worth of doing. Hidden agendas that bury beneath the brilliancy of the sun’s witness but that overtly and willingly take the stage to blanket the landscape of the moon’s illumination.
Fretfulness. Tearfulness. Anxiousness. Tensions. Confusions. Consumptions. Considerations. Manipulations.
When was the last time your “tucking in time” gave way to nighttime desperations? Why do they seem to wait until the cover of darkness to speak their witness? What is it about a night’s pause that offers up fertile soil for our desperations to take root and breathe and flourish into a stress far grander than the daytime will allow?
Why did mother always say, “Things will look better in the morning.”?
I’m not sure she knew the reasons behind her proclamation. I think, perhaps, she spoke from experience. I think we all could… speak from experience. Many of us could testify to the difference between a night’s wrestling and a morning’s peace. Some of us closed our yesterdays with full-grown and on display desperations. Most of us probably woke up to our todays with a lesser portion of struggle, less angst, less confusion, and more tempered understanding. The dawning of a new day has brought better perspective, not always perfect answers and certain peace, but better perspective.
A perspective not so cluttered by the night’s quiet and cover of darkness, but instead, a perception bathed in the radiancy of the morning’s crescendo.
There’s a holiness that surrounds the birthing of new day… a sacred mention of the Creator that cannot be overlooked or shrouded by our desperations. The light is too bright to miss; too big to hide; too loud to silence. It will not be trumped by the dark deliberations of a night’s pause. Certainly, we can pull the covers over our heads, keep the lights off, and close the blinds to the announcing of a new day, but doing so won’t change the fact that the light has come to lay hold of the night.
And with the light, comes life… another day to flesh out sacred understanding beneath the watchful gaze and warmth of a sun’s embrace.
A Son’s embrace.
Not long ago, there were a few disciples who understood the length and breadth, width and depth of a nighttime desperation. The silence and cover of darkness held their hope captive and threatened to claim previously held truth. Their “tucking in time” gave way to fretfulness; tearfulness; anxiousness; tensions; confusions; consumptions; considerations; manipulations. Their night perspective was too shallow to contain the possibility of the morning’s promised light. Instead, they gathered their fears, collected their tears, and hovered beneath darkened perspective, certain that the night was too long in its witness. Long forgotten were a Father’s words about things looking better in the morning. Their night stood in stark contrast to his previously spoken truth.
But as with all nights, regardless of their desperations, morning broke through. Light came, and the Son rose to take his rightful place above their cluttered considerations and painful conclusions. Christ shattered the darkness with the witness of his illuminated presence, and heaven’s morning crescendo has never birthed more brilliantly.
An Easter morning to replace all nighttime desperations. A once-and-for-all reasoning to bridge understanding regarding the difference between a night’s wrestling and a morning’s peace.
How thankful I am for that morning. How thankful I am for this one… these early, beginning hours that breathe easier than the closing ones I experienced last evening. With the sunrise, the Son has risen to his rightful place in my mind, heart, and soul, and things are, indeed, looking better. How I pray to live in that better throughout my day and into the night hours. Resurrection living is intended for them both. Thus, I pray…
May the light and witness of Calvary’s crescendo illuminate our days and penetrate our nights with the truth of your Son’s embrace, Father. Fill our desperations with the promise of morning’s arrival. You are the candle that keeps company with our days and nights. You are the flame that blazes the path before us, marking our way home to you. Even so, come Lord Jesus and light your fire in our hearts this day as we pilgrim to the Easter cross and fall beneath the weightiness of your truth and grace. And grant us your peace… always Peace for the journey ahead. Amen.
Beautiful! This post serves as a wonderful reminder of the joy that came following the darkness.
Blessings to you, dear friend. Have a peaceful weekend as you celebrate Jesus.
Continuing to pray for your recovery…
I don't know why nights can be such dreadful times of aloneness and anxiety, and yes desperation. It seems to be the devil's playtime. I hate it when that happens. "Weeping may endure for a night, buy joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5. Mother was right. Beautiful post, thank you.
Beautiful my friend. You're writing, your heart and just you.
Your words painted a stunning picture of that "desperate night" before "The Morning"…
My heart has been singing the song "Then Came the Morning" for the past several days…your post truly blessed me…
May you and your family experience a wonderful Easter celebration!
Heart-wrenching and powerful. I so relate with this one. Thankful our Savior raises the dead and broken to whole vibrant life! Love you, sister.
beautiful post sweet Elaine. I can relate and am so thankful that God grants us those mornings of peace that come when we trust in Him.
It is so true! So true! I love how the Lord revealed to you the parallel of our dark nights with that of the disciples that night. My heart is stirred!
Love your poetic words! 🙂
Blessings Elaine!
Love,
Kathy
Beautiful Elaine! Night's pause really does bring our worries to the surface. Perhaps it is God examining my trust in Him.
Will I worry tonight, or will I rest in the assurance that He is in control. There is nothing I can do at night, but trust…I'm forced to release it and pray…pray and fall asleep in my daddy's arms!
Thank you for shining your light!
Happy Resurrection! xo
Ah, the promise of morning's arrival. So thankful that in Him we have that promise for here on earth as well as our certain future in heaven. Happy Easter, indeed! Have a blessed one, Elaine!
Dear Elaine,
Like you I am so thankful for Resurrection morning…when heaven smiled again on earth, and hope was born anew in the hearts of all who put their trust in Jesus looked forward to His coming again.
I wish you hope in the days ahead, dear friend.
Love
Lidj
How wonderful a morning is when you awaken and just "feel" that all is well, especially after a night of turmoil or as you said, desperations.
That simple calm assurance….
~Beth
Yes amen, Joy comes in the Morning..Have a very blessed Resurrection day, Barbara
I think that's why I'm such a morning person. From my earliest days I've been a predawn riser. There's something so affirming about witnessing the sun's rise; and never more than Resurrection Day. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Love you,
Kathleen
What an eloquent and powerful prayer Elaine. I pray along with you that we all gain the wonder of this event, and feel God's Gaze focused on us from that cross on Calvary.
Have a Blessed Easter Weekend Dear Lady!
What a beautiful post Elaine…and just soo profoundly true of course. ALWAYS been my favorite time of the day. Maybe this is why.
Have a wonderful Resurection Day with your family as we celebrate the glory of the risen Lord!
HUGS
Oh my goodness! I hardly know where to begin. First of all, Elaine, you have captured perfectly the wild fears of the night, the desperate insomniac hours, the deep-seated feeling that we're alone and all is lost. I have been there too many times to count.
And yet – God's wonderful "and yet" – there was an Easter morning that brought beautiful Son Light to every morning thereafter.
Joining you in praising our God for a glorious Easter morning – a morning when the Son rose forever!!
GOD BLESS!
Elaine,
As tomorrow morning brings with it unmeasurable joy in the resurrection of our living God I am praying that it also brings a resurrection of my broken heart!
I was looking upon tomorrow as a day so sadness, missing my husband who will have been gone 4 months tomorrow, yet in several places the Lord has spoken to me today that tomorrow brings with it HOPE and a future!
I am clinging to that Hope and believing that when my eyes are opened in the morning the light and love of God will shine forth not only to me but through me as well.
Thank you precious friend for your words here this day!
Praying for your mornings and your Resurrection Sunday to be Filled with Gods presence!!
Cindy
I agree with Cindy. Joy comes in the morning.
I have had those nights filled with desperation. God is our solace.
Praying for you continually,
Sheryl
Easter Blessings to you and your family…may YOU find peace in your journey.
Have a beautiful Easter, friend!
I have experienced the kind of desperation where darkness takes over, and I think there's no way out–no way to overcome.
Then He sends His light.
Light of His word.
And I get up again.
Sweet dreams.
HIS Eternal Light washes my sin weary soul…purging the dread and fear that threatens to overtake my thoughts, my joy.
Thank you for reminding me of this miracle that I often take for granted.
Peace and Love to you today~
Jess
wifeforthejourney:
Your post is both confessional and prophetic. What a beautiful way you have connected your own recent history back to that first Easter – this is not just your story it really is a message for all of us!
Love you,
Billy
Just when I think I've read the BEST of you…..here comes THIS one. It is SO true of me & some of my nighttime, I confess.
Why I entertain the desperations, I don't know! I know I "should" pray. I know I "should" meditate on the promises….
After reading this, the next time I face the desperation, I want to think of it with a Resurrection perspective. And sleep.