Still with You

 

One of my favorite things in Scripture study is when I catch the tiniest little detail I’ve not noticed in previous readings. The day I saw that comma in Be still, and know that I am God changed everything about that verse for me. It showed me the importance of fully being still – and then knowing God in ways I couldn’t if I wasn’t being still.

            This week I found a new-to-me phrase that has settled over my soul, so I want to share it with you. I’ve been participating in a workshop about creating vision for my writing dreams for the coming year, but I’ve been applying all I’ve been learning to life at large. The whole series is built on Psalm 139, and in one of the sessions, they pointed out this sentence from verse 18:

            I awake, and I am still with you.

            Mornings have never been my first love. Those of you who have read here for many years know that. When I was younger and living at home, I was downright nasty in the morning. (All I can figure out is that I didn’t know about coffee back then. Maybe it all would have gone better if I knew?)

            I got a little nicer in college, mostly because I didn’t want my roommates to turn on me. My twenties were touch and go on the mornings. My coworkers mostly knew to give me a few minutes.

            I’ve mellowed quite a bit over the years, and while I will still not choose mornings, I’ve made peace with them. I’m still the last to wake up in our household, and there is a fair amount of snoozing before I pull myself out of bed, but I’m pretty nice (I think?) when I head to the coffee cup.

            Part of me truly does dream about being one of those people who wakes up (naturally) early and gets to turn on a soft light to read and pray before starting the day. (I’ve tried that. I fall asleep in under five seconds.)

            But even though the storybook mornings aren’t part of my story, this short prayers can be. I might not be able to intercede first thing in the morning, but I can be aware enough to say to God, I awake, and I am still with you.

            Really, is there any better realization first thing in the morning? It’s a new day and He’s allowed me to awaken. And I’m not alone. He’s still with me. I’m still with Him.

            What a comfort!

            I am grateful. I’m still thinking through the goals and visions for the year to come, but the thing I know for sure today is that I awake…and I am still with Him!