Looking for Encouragement

What do you do at the close of the day when you’re alone and left with no-one and nothing to sidetrack you? And, the intentional distractions of late night amusements have only drawn out your need to pay attention to your soul’s dilemma. Your silent, yet tormenting, thoughts challenge and chafe your soul, they rob you of rest and demand attention and resolution. When the night has grown long, where do you go for comfort, reassurance, and hope?

Do you willingly rush to rest in the security of God’s comfort, or do you scrutinize every thought to find a resolution – your own way out?

Your heavy heart grows weightier as you analyze and search out the depths of the struggle you find yourself in. Late night hours become early hours – a new day has begun and you’ve carried your deep and difficult thoughts into a new day. Another long, tiring and burdensome day awaits.

The quiet of the night has kept us focused on our struggles. We did not use the stillness of the night hours to rest in the knowledge of God; reminding us of who He is, and what He is doing in and through the difficulties we find ourselves in. We did not allow quiet to restore. We allowed it to churn and wedge trouble deeper into our souls. The strategy of distress is to go down deep – entrench itself into our heart, and remain there. Quiet restfulness must become our intentional choice. We need to silence the despairing and accusatory thoughts that plague our minds, hearts and souls.

1. What thoughts must become yours and mine to secure comfort, reassurance, and hope?

2. What strategies do you have in place to keep your mind captive to the promise of rest during the night watches?

3. What must I do – the one and essential thing at the start of a day – when I have failed in my late night God-focused vigil?

• I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life (Psalm 119:147-149).

• Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord (Lamentations 2:19).

• When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:6-8).

• How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you (Psalm 139:17-18).

• I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law (Psalm 119:55).

#encouragement