February 21
God’s Song
in the Night
"During the day the Lord sends his love to me. During the night I sing about him. I say a prayer to the God who gives me life."
Psalm 42:8 (NIrV)
Karl sat in his room, staring at the ceiling. The muffled sound of laughter drifted up from outside, but it only deepened his sense of isolation. He had tried to join in once or twice, but the taunts about his limp, the mocking comments about his speech, and the endless whispers made him retreat.
School was a battlefield. Each day brought a new challenge, from being tripped in the hallway to the cruel jokes about his stutter. At home, Karl’s parents were loving but didn’t fully understand the depth of his pain. He felt trapped, unseen, and utterly alone.
One evening, as the shadows lengthened, Karl found himself holding a notebook. In it, he wrote down everything he couldn’t say aloud—the loneliness, the anger, and the fear that no one cared. The pain was so overwhelming that he began to wonder if life was even worth living.
As he flipped the pages, a small, wrinkled note fell out. It was from his grandmother, written years ago when she had given him a Bible:
“God loves you, Karl. No matter what. When you feel lost, remember to talk to Him. He’s always listening.”
Tears welled up in Karl’s eyes. He didn’t know where the Bible was, but her words struck a chord. He found himself whispering into the quiet of his room, “God, if You’re really there, I need help. I feel so lost, so broken. Please, show me that You care.”
That night, as he lay in bed, Karl felt an unexplainable warmth wrap around him. It wasn’t the absence of his pain, but a sense that he wasn’t alone. The next day, his mom noticed something was off and asked if he was okay. For the first time, Karl shared a bit of his heart.
She hugged him tightly and promised to help. Together, they found a local support group for teens dealing with bullying and self-esteem. It wasn’t easy, but Karl began to see glimpses of hope.
One day, at the support group, a speaker shared Psalm 42:8:
“During the day the Lord sends his love to me. During the night I sing about him. I say a prayer to the God who gives me life.”
The words hit Karl deeply. He realized that even in his darkest moments, God had been reaching out to him. Slowly, he began praying each night, asking for strength and guidance. His prayers became songs of gratitude as he discovered that, while life was still hard, God’s love was constant.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us even in our darkest moments.
Like Karl, we often feel alone and overwhelmed, but You remind us that we are never truly abandoned.
Help us to feel Your presence, especially when the world seems against us.
Teach us to trust You and find hope in Your promises.
Thank You for being the God who gives us life and a reason to keep moving forward.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
