Finding Comfort On Our Darkest Nights

“Mommy can you pray for me?”, my daughter whispered.

I placed my hand on her and prayed a quick prayer for God to help her fall asleep and keep her from having bad dreams. Then I gave her a hug and a kiss.

And she went back to bed.

My daughter has slipped into my room for years with this simple request whenever she has trouble sleeping or a nightmare wakes her.

When she was younger, we talked often about God’s love, prayer, and how we can ask Him for anything. We talked about how she could trust God even on her darkest nights.

And so she comes in my room, I pray for her, and then she goes back to bed.

Content in knowing the God who loves her is watching over her.

She used to come into my room almost every night. However, over the years these nighttime prayer requests have become less frequent.

But she still comes in once in a while.

Even though she is older. Even though she thinks she knows more than me now. Even though she sometimes struggles with doubt.

She still finds comfort in prayer.

And she inspires me.

“This is my comfort in affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

-Psalm 119:50 ESV

When I wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep, I usually just toss and turn for hours. I overthink and overanalyze everything.

And then at some point, I think, “Oh yeah, I should pray about it.”

So, I do.

But then I tend to go right back to worrying while tossing and turning.

• I forget that God has promised nothing can separate me from His love.
• I forget that He has promised to be with me always.
• I forget that He has promised to work it all out for my good.

Maybe that is why God says we should have faith like a child. So that when we pray we fully expect to receive what we ask Him for.

Even though we are older. Even though we sometimes act like we know more than He does. Even though we sometimes struggle with doubt.

Because . . . when we have faith like a child our prayers are like a warm blanket.

Wrapping us in reminders of God’s love. Comforting us with the weight of His great promises. Allowing us to fall back asleep, content in knowing that our Abba Daddy is watching over us.

Even on our darkest nights.

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