Happy Campers
By Jennie Pierce
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever . . . [He made] the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever”
Psalm 136:1, 9
Although cold drizzly weather, dark rainy nights, and scary noises can all make for one miserable camping experience, truly, nothing sours the fun of camping more than those dreaded midnight bathroom runs. It’s no fun to have to get out of a warm, cozy sleeping bag only to be smacked in the face with the night’s cool, damp air. I struggle to adjust my eyes, aimlessly wandering toward what I hope is the restroom!By Jennie Pierce
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever . . . [He made] the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever”
Psalm 136:1, 9
This night was no exception. I was awakened by my daughter requesting my company as she needed to use the less-than-ideal campground facilities. Mumbling and grumbling (all on the inside, of course), I unwillingly took the potty trail with her. Walking with my eyes still half-closed and my head dropped down toward the ground, I couldn’t think of anything else but being reunited with my comfy bed.
My daughter’s sudden gasp of air as she seized my arm jolted me out of my sleepy stupor. Surely we were about to wrestle a grizzly bear! My daughter was pointing up toward the skies in awestruck wonder as she exclaimed, “Mom! Look!” Turning my gaze upward, I saw the blackest night sky ablaze with bright, twinkling stars unlike anything I had seen in a long time. We couldn’t help but temporarily forget we were cold and shivering. Somehow I forgot about my comfortable bed waiting for me. All I could do was pause and gaze at the beautiful display of God’s glory, which I almost missed because I was too busy grumbling and hanging my head down low.
An old adage claims, “The darker the night, the brighter the stars.” In our darkest nights, when life is scary, cold, and unwelcoming, God longs for us to see His goodness shine brighter still. In our dark times, when we run to Him, we will find Him to be faithful, beautiful and good, as He showers on us His love that endures forever. It’s then that we can find ourselves singing midnight praises.
Thanks to the keen awareness of my child, God revealed the goodness of Himself to me in the midst of that dark, miserable night, making the journey so very worth it all.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Is your life so dark right now that you find it difficult to see God’s goodness? Ask God to give you the courage to look up, and to give you eyes that are open to see His goodness already revealed for you.
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 63:6-7; Psalm 136
Jennie is a wife and mother of three. She is active in Oakwood’s musical worship ministry and works part-time for a chiropractor.
