Somewhere in the Night

“Somewhere in the night, I search for your presence. Somewhere in the night, I need to know you’re there.”

Image by James Chan from Pixabay

The Holidays Can be Hard

There are so many people in my life who have experienced loss this year. Some are still hurting from previous losses that have still not healed. I wanted to take time to say I’m here and I love you. I have been honored to listen and hold space for some of you in your grief.

The holidays are difficult for many people. You may be dealing with pain from the loss of a loved one or dear pet. Perhaps you are facing an illness or a job loss. Maybe you struggle with anxiety or depression. You may be struggling with loneliness, growing older, or being without a community.

You don’t have to celebrate if you don’t feel like it. There is a time for everything. “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4) You need to honor your feelings and spend time with people who can hold space for your grief. If you don’t have people like that in you life, please reach out to a counselor. You will not always feel like this. You will laugh and dance again.

Photo by Mike Labrum on Unsplash

Jesus Draws Near

As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus this time of year. Did you know that Jesus was called “a man of deep sorrows who was no stranger to suffering and grief”? (Isaiah 53:3) Let that sink in a minute. Jesus knew what it felt like to experience suffering and grief. Why would he expect us to dismiss our own grief?

When Lazarus died, Jesus was so moved by Mary and her friend’s grief that he wept with them. (John 11:33-35) The God of the universe, who knew he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead was still overcome by grief. Jesus knows and understands our grief. He doesn’t expect us to get over it or push it away. He knows that grief needs to be felt and expressed in order for us to be healed.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4) The Aramaic word for comfort is nethbayoon. This word can mean “to see the face of what (or who) you long for. Wow! This means that when you grieve, Jesus will come and comfort you!

Jesus tells us that grieving is necessary for our healing. We have to go through grief to find joy on the other side. Jesus said, “How content you become when you weep with complete brokenness, for you will laugh with unrestrained joy.” (Luke 6:21) I have walked through my own grief. I am looking forward to a new year full of unrestrained joy!

Somewhere in the Night

We will not always grieve. But we must honor those feelings to experience joy again. We have a Savior who understands our pain. He has experienced grief and suffering first hand. But Jesus said, “He [God] has sent Me [Jesus] to heal the brokenhearted.” (Luke 4:18) That is us. When we are in despair, Jesus draws near to us.

I wrote a song called “Somewhere in the Night” after a special night where Jesus drew near to me. It is difficult to put into words because it was a very personal experience. So this is probably the best song I have ever written, because God wrote it for me. It is simple, but profound. I hope this brings you comfort this holiday season.

“Somewhere in the Night” by Lisa Beth Wright

Always remember, we have an ultimate promise in Revelation 21:4. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain. All the old ways are gone.”

I pray that you have your own “Somewhere in the Night” moment with Emmanuel, because He truly is “God with us”. May God’s face shine upon you and give you comfort this holiday season! May you have a new year full of unrestrained joy!

Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash