Daily devotional · December 21
Even the Longest Night
“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.”
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is around the shortest day and the longest night of the year, a natural moment to think about darkness. The psalmist asks where he could flee from God's presence and finds no place: not the heights, not the depths, not the far sea. Even darkness cannot hide him, because night shines like day to God. This is a comfort for anyone in a dark season, whether of grief, depression, fear or uncertainty. The darkness is real, but it is not out of God's reach. If the season is heavy for you, you do not have to pretend, and you do not have to carry it alone. Tell God plainly how the night feels. Then reach out to one person, a friend, pastor or counselor, and say a truthful sentence about how you are. If you are in danger of harming yourself, please call a local crisis line now.
Prayer
God, even the dark is not dark to You. Hold me tonight and lead me toward morning. Amen.