In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

When we moved from a small East Texas town to a huge South Texas metropolis, I experienced some fear at night mainly because my husband’s job included travel leaving me home alone many nights.

I remember a tremendous storm roared the very first of my nights home by myself. The loud thunder and torrential rains did not make for a peaceful night’s sleep. The lack of tornado alarms in our community did not help relieve my anxiety either.

Trying to get used to the new normal noises in our home also disquieted me for quite some time. I would lay awake listening.

It did not take long before I realized I needed to get a grip. Stirring myself up every night only made me more fretful. I could not let Satan have the victory in this area of my life. I looked to God for help, prayed fervently about it, and left it in his capable hands.

I had not thought much about it for quite some time until I had an overnight guest. She asked why I did not close some of our blinds in the evening. I started thinking about it. I used to always close every blind every night. Our dining room windows face the driveway I do not go in there much at night. Our living room windows face the backyard privacy fence. I usually leave those blinds open halfway all the time. I do not even think to close them at night anymore.   

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Her comment really pointed out how God had given me peace in this area. I felt like, without knowing it, she truly gave me a compliment. She also gave God a compliment about how much he had worked in my life. I could not help but praise him just as fervently as I had prayed for his help about it a few short years earlier.

God, thank you for your peace in the darkness. I can lie down and sleep confidently because of you.

Susan Partida