Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill.
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, June 14, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
There are some times when I’m not okay. A few weeks ago I found myself restless and irritable, with my emotions just barely under the surface. I shared something with a friend and suddenly started crying. For the next week or two I cried at the drop of a hat, until I finally called my therapist and asked if we could resume our sessions. It was he who pointed out that I’m coming up on the anniversary of a significant upheaval and grief in my life. And while I was generally aware of the dates, it never occurred to me that something so simple could kick up such raw sorrow.
Knowing why I was such a mess didn’t automatically fix it, but it helped. I felt as though God had answered me from God’s holy hill.
I don’t want to sound like I’m advocating for avoiding pain through sleep, but for me, sleep is deeply healing. Before and after recognizing what was going on with me, I allowed myself to sleep as much as I felt my body needed. It helped to acknowledge my grief, to turn it over to God, and to care for myself by resting. And upon waking, I could say with the psalmist, “the Lord sustains me.” Because God does.
Nurturing God, you hear me in my distress. Sustain me through my difficulties and refresh me with your healing grace. Amen.
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