The sun is setting on another beautiful spring day.  The bright colors and bird songs are fading outside, while inside we are transitioning to bedtime, pj’s and clean teeth, one more story book and “thank you God for Grandma.”

For even a third-time-new mom like me, twilight is the most anxious time of the day.  As the rest of my family settles down to recharge in dreamland, I feel a sense of abandonment knowing that I will be on my own for the night shift.  I will toss and turn, alert to every uneven breath.  I will be jolted awake by the piercing cry of my infant.  And, despite the “unfairness” of it all, I will be the one to get up from my warm bed, change a diaper in the dark, nurse in rhythm to the symphony of my husband’s snoring, and pray that she will want to go back to sleep when her belly is full.  I try to doze, but I cannot find comfort for my body is still recovering from the battle scars of giving birth.  I feel utterly alone.

Then an old hymn comes to my heart.  “I need Thee, O, I need Thee;  Every hour I need Thee.  O, bless me now, my Savior.  I come to Thee.”

A tear trickles down my cheek as I realize how precious are these dark nights alone with my daughter.  No one can satisfy her cries for hunger like I can.  No one can comfort her with an embrace like I can.  No one can sing as sweetly to her little ears as I can.  But, to give and give and give is exhausting.

I must remember that no one can satisfy my hunger like God can.  No one can comfort me like God can.  No one can sing as sweetly to my heart as God can.  My courage cannot come from me.  To provide her with all she needs, I must get what I need from the Lord.

“God is love” and “love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:8, 18 (NIV)

More From WOMI-AM