Psalm 119:55-56 (English Standard Version): I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

Nighttime is one of my favorite times, but it hasn’t always been so.

When I was little, I dreaded the night because I didn’t always sleep well. I didn’t like the darkness because it seemed to creep in and swallow me like a big monster. I had to sleep with a light on in a nearby room so that I could see because the darkness frightened me.

As I grew up, I found out that sleeping with a light on was not such a bad thing. A light was a comfort when I woke up in the night. I can’t tell you how many times having that little light on saved my toes from coming into sudden contact with furniture. And when the light was bright enough, I would have a book handy for those times when I couldn’t get to sleep.

All of us have nights — you know, those times when we face bad news from the doctor, times when we lose a friend, times when life is not kind to us. We have those times when someone mistreats us, talks bad about us, hurts us with words or actions that are not kind.

The Psalmist had those times as well. He remarks, "I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law." When we have those dark nights, we can call on the name of the Lord, and when we put God first in our lives, we will know God’s blessing. We will see God’s light shining in the darkness of the night. Where do you need God’s light to shine on your nights? Trust in the Lord, and God’s light will lead you through the darkest times of life and into God’s wonderful light.

Rev. Jan McCoy is the associate pastor of Covington First United Methodist Church in downtown Covington. She may be reached at jan.mccoy@ngumc.net.