IN THE NIGHT WATCHES

IN THE NIGHT WATCHES
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches…
Psalm 63:6 (NASB)

Night Watches

• to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens:
• to look or wait attentively and expectantly
• to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping: to watch with a sick person.

Ever notice how the night can seem to last forever when you are awake?  In those times it is good to talk with Him who never slumbers or sleeps.

The fan whirred overhead, the air conditioner hummed and Marc and our golden retriever Teddy snored.  My eyes were wide open as thoughts marched noisily around and around in my head dragging my heart along.  I knew there were verses in God’s Word that talked about nights like this and I tried to slip through an opening in my marching thoughts to find them but the thoughts wouldn’t stop and seemed to be picking up speed and my heart was being trampled.  Thoughts can be so, so thoughtless.

I tried to think about the disciples and what Jesus said to them when they were frazzled by endless marching needs and they didn’t have time to even eat.  Let’s see.  What was it He said?  Hmmm…something about coming away and a quiet place and rest.  I sat up knowing where I needed to go.  I grabbed my Bible and headed down the familiar hallway path to the Well leaving the whirring, humming and snoring behind, but my thoughts kept up their marching and surrounded me as I sat down at the Well.

My heart tried to see Him who never sleeps, but who could see anything through the dust of concern my marching thoughts were kicking up as they went.  Most of the marching thoughts had to do with a dear friend who was heart sick.  I wondered if she was awake in the night too.  It was too late to call.  Bother!

A childhood memory quietly emerged amongst all the marching and I peered through the worry dust to look more closely.

I was little and not feeling at all well.  I remember lying in bed wide awake.  The window was directly over my bed and I could see stars twinkling overhead from their bed of black velvet and I wondered how long the night would last.  My head ached with congestion and fever and it felt as if something heavy sat on my chest making it difficult to breathe.   I felt very small and alone surrounded by endless night.

I was suddenly aware of movement in the darkness.  I felt gentle hands on my brow.  I smelled Vicks as it was being applied to my chest and then covered by a warm cloth.  I heard rustling and then the vaporizer hummed to life, filling the room with steam.  I recognized the presence of my Mom as she sat on the bed and placed a cool damp cloth on my forehead.  It covered my eyes so I closed them.  In the darkness I was aware of my Mother’s sweet presence and the comfort of her touch that was balm to a small child.  I rested and soon a new day came with the dawn and chased away the night.

As I sat quietly at the Well His Words I had been trying to think of earlier came clearly.  They are from Mark 6:31 and I turned there and read the words quietly and then it seemed to me that He whispered them to my heart.

“Diana, come away with Me to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Startled, my heart looked around expecting to see Him, but all I could see were my marching thoughts.  I remembered His promise to the disciples when He was about leave them in Matthew 28.  He said, “I am with you always; even to the end of the age.”  I thought about His promise and knew that it was not only for His disciples then but for His disciples now, and it had not weakened with the years but was eternal.  That meant He was with me always—even amid noisy marching thoughts.  Though my heart still could not see Him, I decided to take Him at His Word.  I put my small hand in His nail-pierced one and went away with Him to His Word.  I turned to the Psalms like a familiar friend.

I read Psalm 63 in the soft glow of lamplight.  Verses 6 and 7 seemed to stand out as though He had marked them for me with His heavenly highlighter.

6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,7 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
Psalms 63:6-7 (NASB)

“I am the God of all comfort.” He took me and all my noisy, marching thoughts with Him to 2 Corinthians.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
2 Cor 1:3-5 (NASB)

Yes, my heart sick friend was certainly experiencing an abundance of sufferings.  As I so quickly began to worry again, wishing I could be with her and give her some words—strengthening words that would chase her night away, my thoughts became even louder and some were now going at a jog as marching seemed much too slow a pace.

“Be still!” His voice thundered through the night, my thoughts stopped in their tracks and fell at the feet of Him who was and is and is to come.

The night grew quiet as the dust of all my thoughts marching cleared away as I read again Psalm 63 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.  The words stirred on the page and in the stillness it seemed to me that gentle hands applied them to my heart and covered me with the warmth of His never leaving presence.  Suddenly I felt I could breathe easier and I wondered if there was a heavenly vaporizer that cleared the spiritual congestion from my soul.

I knew then that though I could not physically sit with my friend and offer her comfort at this moment, I knew the One who could.  A prayer rose up from the depths of my heart and as the words came it took the shape of a poem.  I wrote it down.

She sits shrouded in endless night
The darkness heavy against her chest
Abounding troubles they fill her life
Until she’s unable to find any rest

The darkness surrounds her on every side
She wonders if the night will ever end
Will dawn ever come casting its light
Rays of sunlight through the darkness send

There is a stirring in the darkness of night
And over her low Father of mercy does bend
Living Words He applies to her heart
Like a soothing balm brought by a friend

He whispers, “dear daughter, I am with you
Here in the darkness of night
I promise I am always here with you
I won’t let you out of My sight

I will sit with you in the night watches
Cover you with Gilead’s balm
I am the God of all comfort and mercy
My promises will your sick heart calm

My child the night won’t stay forever
In the first light of dawn darkness will run
In this world you will have trouble
But take courage the world I have overcome

But for now as you lay in the darkness
Your heart sick and hurting within your chest
Feel my presence and trust in my everness
In Me you will find comfort and rest

I sat awhile longer with the God of all comfort and felt His words cover me with their Truth balm and I knew now I would be able to sleep.  The Father of mercy and the God of all comfort was sitting across the miles with my friend.  She was surrounded with His presence – surrounded by His everness in the night watches.

An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright by Diana Morgan, June 23, 2012