Weeping may last for a night time

Cowering under the bedcovers through the night, gripped in the midst of fear, almost suffocating from the weight of those fears. Many tears but not a wink of sleep passed my eyes that night as I poured out my fears to God.  This is how I saw in the new year on 31^st December, 2011. As the new day dawned, and the first rays of light from 2012 shone through the bedroom window, chasing away the shadows of the dark night, He uttered a verse of promise to my heart:

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”

As those words took root in my heart, the fears were swallowed up by His promise, as hope and peace took their rightful place, growing with the strengthening daylight.

This word of God has not returned to Him empty, but has proven itself to me over this year, time and time again.

It is a promise that has sustained me throughout a difficult year. And it is a promise that has returned to me as the year closes and I have sought to respond to the tragedy of Sandy Hook, which stands as a solemn and Holy testimony to the darkness engulfing the land, to a land that has been “given over” in Holy judgment, a land where His hand is lifted high yet the people do not see it. As in America, so in Britain.

This Christmas time, as Immanuel holds my attention, I remember how Light stepped down into the darkness. The darkness did not overcome. Darkness was defeated. This is the promise we have, the promise we celebrate! No matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. In this time of darkness, it is surely time to teach one another a lament, to hold fast to the promise of Immanuel.

Sovereign Lord, list the tears of my lament

In your scroll, hear my cry

For our land walks in the dark

And we cannot see the light

Arise O Lord! May we hear Your Voice again!

Sovereign Lord, truth has stumbled in the streets

Righteousness stands afar

Yet we have not lost our hope

As we cry “Come, Emmanuel!”

The light shines in the dark and is not overcome!

And weeping may last for a night-time

But rejoicing – it shall come

Yes rejoicing – it shall come

Rejoicing shall come with the dawning of the day!

Sovereign Lord, my heart is poured out on the ground

The fathers’ hearts are turned away

But as darkness closes in

Your deliverance draws near

Arise, O Lord! And turn our mourning into joy!

And weeping may last for a night-time

But rejoicing – it shall come

Yes rejoicing – it shall come

Rejoicing shall come with the dawning of the day!

Immanuel - God with us

Last year as I thought about the blessed incarnation of Christ, the Word dwelling among us in flesh, my thoughts were shadowed by the cross of Christ.

This year as I think about the Word coming to tabernacle amongst us, I am mindful of His return.

It is no surprise, really, that the world can find it in its heart to acknowledge the birth of Christ upon the earth. A baby in a manger doesn't challenge us. Little Jesus, meek and mild.

This year, I want to shout out the truth, that He is coming again. And His second coming will be so different to His first coming.

At His first coming, only a few people were aware of His birth. Mary, Joseph, a few shepherds.

At His second coming, every eye will see Him.

At His first coming, He emptied Himself and made Himself nothing.

At His second coming, He will come revealed in His full glory.

At His first coming, the angels appeared to the shepherds and sang glory to God.

At His second coming, the angels will be sent with a loud trumpet call to gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

At His first coming, the Magi brought gifts to Him – gold,frankincense and myrrh.

At His second coming, His reward and recompense will come with Him.

At His first coming, He proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favour.

At His second coming, He will proclaim the day of vengeance of our God.

At His first coming, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world was despised like one from whom men hide their faces.

At His second coming, men will call out to the mountains and rocks to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.

At His first coming, He revealed Himself to a nation that did not call on His Name.

At His second coming, He will strike down the nations.

At His first coming, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

At His second coming, He will be dressed in a robe dipped in blood.

At His first coming, the Magi bowed down and worshipped Him.

At His second coming, every knee shall bow before Him.

At His first coming, the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem looked on the one they pierced.

At His second coming, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn Son.

At His first coming, Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

At His second coming, He will rejoice over Jerusalem.

At His first coming, He was lifted up as He was pierced for our transgressions and bore our sin.

At His second coming, He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted before all the nations of the world.

As I remember the coming of the King this year, I am overawed. My Jesus, My King, My Saviour, My Lord…I bow my knee before Him. May He grant me a greater boldness in the coming year to proclaim the year of His favour, the year of Jubilee.