Someone Is Watching the Night
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
Fear can be a powerful thief. It steals our peace, robs us of our rest, and fills our minds with endless “what ifs.” I recently read about two young sisters who were so frightened of what might happen during the night that they slept with a golf club and a baseball bat beside their beds. The violence they saw around them and on television had convinced them that danger was lurking behind every shadow. Every night became a battle against fear.
When a local police officer heard about their concerns, he decided to do something simple but meaningful. During one of his patrols, he left a note on their front door. He explained that he worked through the night to keep people safe, that he had driven through their neighborhood, and that everything looked good. He wanted them to know that someone was watching while they slept. That small note brought comfort and reassurance to two anxious hearts.
As I read that story, I immediately thought about our Heavenly Father. Unlike that officer, God never finishes His shift. He never grows tired, never misses a detail, and never needs a break. The Psalmist reminds us that it is the Lord who makes us dwell in safety. How often do we carry our worries to bed with us? We replay conversations, fret about our health, fear the future, and imagine problems that may never come. Yet all the while, our Heavenly Father is watching over us.
There have been seasons in my own life when sleep was difficult because my mind was racing. The burdens were real, and the future seemed uncertain. But I have learned that peace is not found in knowing all the answers; it is found in knowing the One who does. God sees the dangers we cannot see, knows the future we cannot know, and guards His children with perfect wisdom. While we rest, He watches.
Tonight, before you lay your head on your pillow, remember that God has already gone before you. He is patrolling the path ahead. Nothing will surprise Him before morning comes. You may not have a reassuring note taped to your front door, but you have something far better—the promises of God written in His Word. The Lord is watching the night.
Related Sermons
Before going to bed tonight, write down the biggest worry on your heart. Then pray specifically about it and leave it in God's hands. Trust Him to watch over what you cannot control.
"The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." — Proverbs 29:25
Daily Scripture Reading
Join us as we read through the Bible in one year, growing together in God’s Word day by day. Click on any underlined verse to access Pastor Burns’ helpful study notes and deeper insights.
Proverbs 1
John 19:1-22
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.