In our Darkest Hours

The night was sultry, humid. Overhead, a flash of lightning preceded a thunderclap. Petrified, my dog leapt on to my bed, shaking with fear. As she trembled and tried to burrow under the bedclothes, I resigned myself to a sleepless night. Frustrated through lack of sleep, in the early hours of the morning I padded downstairs.

As my fingers groped for the light switch a sudden flash extinguished the light. I unearthed a candle and matches and soon mended the fuse, musing on how helpless we feel when a storm puts out the lights.

I remembered my childhood in Sunday school, how eagerly I had listened to the story of Jesus and the disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose. My mind went back to Jesus’ wonderful words: ‘Peace, be still.’ And everything became calm.

Jesus is ever present. He’s the light in our darkest hours. When all else fails, in the midst of our storms, we can rely on him to restore our peace.

Prayer: Lord, when life’s storms are raging and the light of life goes out, bring us your peace. Amen