Sept 23, 2025 A Glimpse of Heaven Under the Bridge

A Glimpse of Heaven Under the Bridge 

Morning’s coming, but for now it’s still night… Hang on! 

Isaiah 21:11–12 and 16, Message. 

I needed that night on the river … watching Felicity, our granddaughter, soak in her long-awaited Bat Tour. For months she’d been fascinated by bats, even fashioning brown felt wings to the arms of her black fur-lined desk chair. So of course, how could we not buy tickets for a Sunday evening Bat Tour cruise. 

As dusk deepened, thousands of Mexican Free-Tailed bats streaked from beneath the Congress Street Bridge in Austin, black smudges against a fading sky. Felicity rose from her plastic deck chair, camera in hand, mouth open in wonder. She remained standing and filmed, capturing every moment of the rhythm of their evening flight. 

When the tour ended, the guide thanked us. Felicity jumped to her feet, clapping so enthusiastically that even after everyone else stopped, her lone, thunderous applause echoed into the night, drowning out even the water lapping against the docked boat. Later, she hugged herself tight, eyes squeezed shut, shoulders trembling, grin wide…reflecting the unmistakable face of one experiencing pure joy. 

For that moment, while watching our granddaughter, I felt the thin veil between heaven and earth drop. In a dark world filled with one distressing news story after another, the prophet Isaiah’s words rushed in and refilled my soul with God’s reassuring hope. How long will this night last, I’d been asking. His answer: “Morning’s coming, but for now it’s still night… Hang on!” 

God is still at work, making all things right, even in the midst of discord, debates, and devastations of war. One day, the prophet says, we’ll join in an all-night holy feast (Isaiah 30:27, The Message). Until then, I hold onto Felicity’s face of joy, a reminder that morning is on its way. 

Reflect: Where have you recently caught a glimpse of joy that reminded you God is still at work? What helps you “hang on” when the “night” feels long? 

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for breaking through the darkness with glimpses of joy. Help me hold onto hope, knowing morning is on its way because of Christ. In His name we pray, Amen. 

By His grace,  
Gloria Ashby  
Lay Leader