Lord, you don't step down from your throne when night falls, nor do you abandon the world to evil during long winter nights. Your eyes watch us like the stars, and your arms surround us like the zodiac in the sky. The blessings of sleep and the night's influences are in your hand, and even the alarms and solemnities of night are under your control. This comforts me during those midnight hours when I can't sleep.

Just as the sun brings forth fruit, so does the moon: may I share in these blessings. The night of suffering is as much under God's care as bright, joyful summer days. Jesus is present in the storm. His love cloaks the night, but faith sees clearly through it.

From dusk till dawn, God observes and turns the night to our good. We don't believe in battling gods of good and evil. We hear the Lord say, "I create light and darkness. I, the Lord, do all these things." Even when religious devotion grows cold and sin is rampant, God's purpose prevails. His servants might grieve when truth is attacked and His ways ignored, but must not despair. Even the darkest times are in God's hands and will end at His command. What seems like defeat to us may be victory to Him. "Though wrapped in dark night without light, since the Lord is here, we should not fear."