I confess. I have experienced deep crisis in seasons of life. I get the agonizing sorrow that comes to people whose faith is tottering on the brink of hopelessness. Though my struggle may not be your struggle, the questions and pain might be similar. I hope this scripture and song brings a special help to you or a loved one who might be going through such a valley. You are in my prayers, Mary

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. Genesis 28:16

Oh, how that comforted… and comforts me still. I remember gazing at God’s presence in those words when I could not see him otherwise. I consulted my feelings and circumstances as to God’s whereabouts, and they nearly convinced me that my Lord was nowhere to be found. It seemed so dark, yet I was oddly okay as I allowed those words to anchor my soul.

In case you are wondering, I actually had a lot of faith. It’s just that my faith was being sifted. I questioned and wondered and reassessed life. It’s as though the ground underneath my feet was shaking and moving from the crisis of life. Even so, this held me steady and gave me hope. The Lord was indeed in that place with me even though I could not feel him.

Are you in a similar place? Is your soul fainting while God’s presence is not easily detected? Consider yourself in good company. One of the patriarchs, Jacob, also went through this. He was grieving the loss of his familiar home, his father was dying, and his mother remained behind. His own brother wanted to kill him. He was utterly alone as he traveled with a promise that was far away. In the darkness of night, he laid his head on a hard rock for a pillow. (How’s that for comfort?) God met Jacob as he slept (not while Jacob labored intensely). The Lord opened his heart to behold Heaven’s help when his mind had not yet comprehended it. Surely the Lord was in that place, even though he did not know it.

Can you relate to the questions that accompany loss? If so, please consider reaching out to someone who will handle your heart well. Do you have a friend or family member who is a non-judgmental caring listener? Is there a pastor, a counselor, a spiritual director, a chaplain, or a teacher that might be available? Please be brave and ask for help.

Dear, Lord. You see the person who is reading this now. I trust you to wrap them in your tender care. Support, and strengthen, and stabilize them when all around seems to be unsteady. Please, bring people into their life who will be your hands and feet. Help them rest and discover your unseen presence in the dark night of the soul. Amen

Please don’t stop here. Listen to the song below…. and tell your heart to beat again.

Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel.

Genesis 28:10-18