A Prayer/Visual Meditation
Today a daily lectionary reading stirred a search of the scriptures, and inspired visualization of God present and creating IN darkness. Deep feelings of fatigue from the Heart, Lung, and Kidney disease —without any timely resolution— have worn my reserves. Reading scripture and making art is helping scatter clouds, unveil some light.

“The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness….” (1 Kings 8:12) Solomon stated that in the midst of a service of worship. So, God is present in darkness. Whew! The Creation itself as written in the Genesis 1, hymn began with darkness hovering. I recall—(Genesis 1:2) “And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering …..”

God said to Job (38:18-19), “‘Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?’” The physical manifestation of ‘darkness,’ disease, I experience is the result of cancer and its treatment— chemo and radiation. The Psalmist affirms (139:11-12) “If I say, ‘Surely (this) darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to You (God), And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You….”

The book of Job (38:8-9) further tells of God’s supreme Maternal Swaddling as God asks, “who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness….” God, may darkness swaddle, be a balm (Psalm 121:1-2) so I, also may lift up my eyes to the mountains and know where my help comes from. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

LORD GOD, may I comprehend along with the prophet (Isaiah 45:7), You, LORD form light and create darkness; make well-being and create calamity. You are the Lord, who does all these things, Isaiah recorded. The Beloved Apostle testified, the (John 1:5) Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

LORD, I believe! Help my unbelief.