The Night
Updated: Aug 6, 2019

The shadows begin to creep over town and field
Blackening out the day
And my weary heart grows dark in their shade.
The clarity of the light
Now eclipsed by the night,
My mind becomes murky in the dusk.
Heart beating faster, racing harder
The corners of the room begin to move and dance
A twisted, threatening jig of uncertainty
Inciting fear
Promising pain
Causing me to forget the day just gone
And that one will come again.
The percussive rumble of the train
Right on time
Joins the night time melody
Clickety clack clickety clack
Circling round and round the tracks
Of my mind
With its cargo of fear, doubt and despair
Chugging on
Wearing marks into my soul
Deep and sore. Yes how quickly the clarity of the light is eclipsed by the night.
But then a flicker, a glow
Somewhere in the corner of my mind
Pulsing out truth
“God is sovereign, God is good.”
The flames catch some flax close by and begin to rise
Burning up the darkness of doubt
“All things are working for your good child,
Even in the night.
For Abba does not slumber
Nor leave his little ones unattended.”
The room is bright now
With truth the darkness cannot hide
“More than a conqueror – that’s your name
Established in love – that’s your position.”
The shade clings on to the edges it still possesses
But it’s powerless against the name now falling from my lips,
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
Now it is the night that trembles
For, though arrogant and gaudy,
Even the dark knows its limits
And the name of Jesus builds a boundary line around me
The shadows dare not cross.
Now I lay me down to sleep
Sweet, secure sleep
For the deep, dark night
Holds no terror for those who know the truth –
The darkness does not dictate our destiny
It merely serves to show off the light.