In our bedroom, there is a crate next to the bed for Maggie, our golden retriever. Maggie will spend time on our bed as we read before turning out the lights. Through coaxing (bribery?) with a treat, we will put her in her crate and turn out the lights for the night.

In the middle of last night, I rolled over to find Maggie sitting up in her crate and staring at me. I tried to ignore the stare, but that didn’t work. Maggie was watching to see if I was awake, and I imagine she was hoping to catch my attention.

After a good half hour of trying to ignore the puppy eyes through the wires of the crate, I finally gave in. I opened the crate door, and Maggie quickly bound out of it and back onto our bed. She immediately laid down between us. As I petted her, I could feel that she was shivering, uneasy. But, within a couple of minutes, she had calmed down and did not budge the rest of the night.

There is a famous passage from St. Augustine’s Confessions (Lib 1,1-2,2.5,5: CSEL 33, 1-5) in which Saint Augustine states “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

The words of today’s psalm are words of one whose heart is restless, seeking rest in God.

What is it that keeps you up at night? What makes you restless? Where do you turn to find that peace that only God can give?

Prayer is that place we can go to lay before God our fears, our concerns, our worries.

In the promises of God to never let us go, may we find solace and peace. Like a safe space snuggled up next to one who cares for us, may we find that place in God’s embrace of grace.

Let us pray:

Psalm 86:1-10

¹ Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,

    for I am poor and needy.

² Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;

    save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; ³ be gracious to me, O Lord,

    for to you do I cry all day long.

⁴ Gladden the soul of your servant,

    for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

⁵ For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

    abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;

    listen to my cry of supplication.

⁷ In the day of my trouble I call on you,

    for you will answer me.

⁸ There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

    nor are there any works like yours.

⁹ All the nations you have made shall come

    and bow down before you, O Lord,

    and shall glorify your name.

¹⁰ For you are great and do wondrous things;