Early to bed, we thought with glee.
No one around, just you and me.
Hit the sack early, restful we’ll be.
Except my mind says, No Siree!
A long time ago I learned
Longer time in bed does not equal rest.
I need five hours. Solid as it comes.
But then my mind wakes up. Rest gone.
It happened yesterday, last night. We had an opportunity to shut the day down and get some early and long needed rest. We’ve had a housefull for weeks, months, and now the time arrived. Let’s quit a little early tonight.
About 3 a.m., I start to awake. Toss. Turn. Uncomfortable. Ready? Let’s get up.
Except I don’t.
That clock stretched until about 5:30 a.m.
I could not take it any longer.
Life is to be lived today, tasks slain,
and the plate can be whittled down to where only crumbs may remain.
Throughout my IT career, I spent many a night in the computer room managing the nightly processing, doing school work, and watching old B&W TV, as there was only a single channel that ran a night full of time capsule stories. Yes. Even a nap when needed.
As age and life took me through the decades, I learned I should be in bed by 11 p.m. Morning shifts were favored to start at 7 a.m., and I missed a lot of traffic that way.
70 is around the corner. Whew. Never thought I’d be here. But the midnight is my friend for thought. I’ve solved many a woe under cover of dark…if I could only remember them when it became light.
That was last night and this morning.
I know there are answers from the dark, but the light of day dispels the thought.
For some strange reason, I turn to Jesus.
His last night before his arrest.
Where is he? In the garden at midnight.
What does he do? Agonizes with prayer.
What does Paul and Silas do?
They pray and sing hyms while in prison.
What hymns? Not ours.
I would like to think they sing hymns where they trusted in the Lord.
A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Psalms 121:1-8 NKJV
The word for “keeps, -er” and “preserve” come from the same Hebrew word: Shamar (shaw-mar’ H8104). This Hebrew word is defined as: to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc..
Two thoughts pop into my mind.
Jesus prayed and yet this cup was not passed from him. He went through the fire.
Paul and Silas prayed and sang at midnight, and they were delivered.
Adam hid in the garden, Jesus prayed.
Adam lost it all for the human race, Jesus gained it all…
Whether you go through, or are delivered from, never doubt that your Midnight Hour crisis is known by God. He, who will never leave nor forsake you [Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:8], is with you in and through your struggles.
He is in your midnight hour.
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