Awake, O Sleeper!

March 22

Read Ephesians 5:8-14

Pray: Almighty God awaken me to what needs to be done through me through this time of great darkness. Amen.

Hear:

Anyone else not sleeping very well in these days of Corona and extended spring breaks? Who would have thought that what we are going through right now is what we would be going through?

In times of great uncertainty, we can so readily be ruled by fear. So quickly the way that we feel can be dictated by the great big monster of fear to determine how we act. We buy up all the toilet paper, we steal hand sanitizer and we stop responding in love to the people with whom we are isolated.

How do we fight fear? According to our passage, we run towards the light. The darkness of fear cannot stand the light of speaking our truth. Saying out loud, “I feel,” followed by how we truly feel can stop fear in its ugly tracks. When we acknowledge how we are feeling, we take the power away from darkness and free ourselves to the reality of God’s provision.

Now, this won’t change reality— things are going to be weird for a good chunk of time. We will be going to church on YouTube for a while. Our retirement accounts will be bouncing for a while. But let us remember this truth— nothing in the dark will stay that way. The darkness of fear will eventually be driven into the light. All of this darkness will eventually be overcome with light. We will awaken to how we are truly feeling and thereby conquer darkness.

Respond:

Where do I need to wake up to what I am feeling?

Meditation:

Awake!