But no one says, “Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night.”
Job 35:10

Wesley, our brave dog, and I walk around our circle during the day and have no fear at all–unless we meet a great big dog! It’s relaxing; fun; and good exercise for both of us. I would not walk around our circle during the night with or without Wesley, my constant companion. I’d love to do that, but this isn’t something women do with utter abandonment. (I told Bill just the other day that I resent it that a man can walk in the dark but a woman can’t–safely, at least.) Oh, I love the night time–the stillness, the quiet chirping of the birds going to bed, the crickets serenading, the lightning bugs having fun turning on and off, the moon and the wonder of the numberless stars and some times a haunting song from a bird making the night lovely. Yes, night is fascinating–magical, but men choose to do their evil in the darkness (John 3:19).

Night doesn’t have a good reputation in the Bible either. I love John 1:4-5: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (the darkness can never extinguish it). John 3:19: “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. Even our favorite Psalm 23 gives darkness a bad name: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death….

When we are going through severe problems, coping with illness, devastation, death, or depression, we feel enveloped by shadows and we say we are going through a “dark time in my life”–night has hidden the beauty of the day. But God gives us a promise–a wonderful promise: The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night…. 1 As you read that, do you see that to hear His song in the night we must be in the night–go through the night?

We must remember: He loves us. He has given Himself to us–for us! He never intended for us to walk by ourselves in the darkness, He longs to go through the darkness with us and face it for us! He will never, never leave us or forsake us. He is with us every second of the day and He doesn’t go to bed when night falls, He is still with us.

Lord, I feel so all alone when the darkness of life covers me–but I’m not alone, am I, Lord? And if I listen carefully and open my heart to hear You have a song for me. Thank You, Lord, that when night comes You are still with me–meeting the darkness for me–holding my hand as we walk together. Yes, how I thank You and praise You for Your constant presence, Your strength, and Your never-failing love. We will sing together in this darkness….

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.2

1Psalm 42:8
2H. W. Longfellow : The Day is Done