When darkness follows into sleep

“…a deep sleep fell upon Abraham, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.” Genesis 15:12

It happened while I was sleeping.    Longing to escape, I sought the anesthesia of slumber to overcome and numb my senses.    Believing I would be spared if I fled the reality of this storm-tossed existence – the terror followed me down the corridors of my unconscious, troubling my dreams and invading my sleep.

But it is these dark and terrifying places, where your covenants are made, O Lord.   When the guardrails we relied upon have fallen away, it is precisely in the precipitous places where your promises are made known.  So speak to us, maker of dreams – those terrifying as well as tender – so that we may know that your assurance lives on not just in the light but particularly in times of darkness and fear.  Amen

[1] Image from an online source, https://www.msn.com/ Stargazing in Chile: dark skies in the Atacama desert.

Author: Jessica McArdle

These are dark and corrosive times. As a writer and ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, I use prayer, poetry, reflection, and scripture to re-align our embattled spirits with the uniqueness and urgency of our God-given identity and call. View all posts by Jessica McArdle