Meeting with God

I’ve never been a late-night person. Growing up, I was the child who loved her sleep and would tell the babysitter I was ready for bed early. But nighttime has always been special to me when it comes to spending time with God.

I first realized this during my college years. With its strong contrast to the hustle of everyday campus life, the serenity of late night was appealing. I started staying up extra late on occasion, past my already late collegiate bedtime. I felt I could meet with God more intimately when everyone else was sleeping. I was less distracted, and although God is never distracted or too busy, I felt as though he was more available during those late-night hours.

Those nights I stayed up late to read, pray, and connect with God were always meaningful. I would sit up in bed or venture out with my journal and Bible to the nearby campus chapel that never closed. I wrote out and processed everything that was going on, bringing it to God in a written form of prayer. Then I would turn to Scripture. This was different from my normal quiet time—less rushed, less planned, and in a way, more purposeful.

I don’t remember what I took away from any of those nights in particular, but I look back on them with fondness. They were nights of growth, and I wish I had stayed up more often.

Now, as a mom of three kids, one a newborn, I know late nights in a different way. My youngest wakes up to feed throughout the night. Some nights I’m too groggy to think straight, and some nights I scroll through my phone aimlessly, but some nights I meet with God. If I can get past my own tiredness, a sweet time with him is still available.

These times are much less structured than the ones I embraced in college. I have no journal this time around, my Bible is an app on my phone, and I tend to pray more than I used to. But God is still there. He’s still available. He still listens. He still points to Scripture. He still speaks.

It’s like my relationship with my husband. We see each other and do life together every day, but date nights—when we celebrate anniversaries or milestones, or just get a break from parenting—seem extra special. We try to avoid talking about the kids the whole time and simply enjoy being together. It’s a time to reconnect away from the distractions of our daily lives. It’s a time to just be. We need those times as a couple to celebrate where God has taken us, to invest in our relationship, and to grow together.

We all need special times, not only with our spouses and with our friends, but with our God as well. Late night might not have the same appeal to you. You might prefer special time with God in the early morning hours, during your children’s naps, on lunch breaks, or when you can be alone in a coffee shop or outside in nature.

What time can you carve out for an occasional special time with God? You might miss some sleep or another part of your routine, but you won’t regret the meeting.

Lauren Douglas is a wife and mommy to two little ones. She enjoys reading, crafting, and exercise. Most of her days start and end with coffee. She prays that her home and life are led by her faith in Christ. Lauren blogs at faithledhome.com.