Nightfall, Recycled

Night had fallen and it was pitch black. There, about twenty feet away, was a man staring at each of us. He appeared to be smoking a pipe and wearing an intimidating hat. I’ve got to be honest with you, I was seriously scared. Slowly my inner circle and I inched our way over to the place where this bulky guy was sitting and one brave soul among us shouted, “Hey! Who’s there?!?!?!?!”

Crazy guy did not answer. He just continued to stare us down. Pipe in place, hat secure, arms folded, body seemingly getting larger by the second. Those of us in my ‘inner circle’ who were scared before were now just downright terrified. Indeed, night had fallen and with it darkened enemies were revealing themselves.

The Camping Trip of ’99 was an eventful one for my brothers, cousins and I. Amazing to me that what was actually a tub of pretzels, a baseball cap and a lighter looked like a hired killer waiting for his targets (we, the teenage campers) to be within range. Since that trip experience I have never forgotten what night has the ability to do: Manufacture fiction as fact.

What a powerful spiritual lesson for each of us. How many times have we found ourselves in seasons of hardship and pain; loneliness and loss? How many of us have watched the sun set and found ourselves standing under the veil of night? I wonder how we react. Do we doubt and question the love Christ has for us in these seasons or do we rise up and offer praise even in hours of darkness?

Recently, I have been confronted by a powerful statement Elihu makes in the book of Job.

“But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker,

who provides [us],

with songs in the night…’”

(Job 35:10)

Again I wonder in times of deep darkness and depression what cycle we fall into. Are we on the lookout for Christ and His provision of songs in the night even then? Or are we at a loss, sure that His grace has surely been tapped out?

I’ve got news for you: The Christian walk is not one set with a cheery soundtrack and constant sunny days. It is hard. Challenging. Refining. We are called to walk in a world that Christ himself has told us hates us because it hates him. Night has fallen and the enemy, just as with Job, is desperately trying to strip us. These are turbulent times. Rise up. Shine your light. Make noise for Christ so that others may find their way. Let us be a group that sings the songs provided to us in the night.

And as we strive forward, hard as it is, let us cling onto Romans 13:12, “The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

So let us under the veil of night expose what is deception

and point to who is Truth: Jesus.