Our Internal Alarm Clock

One of the small joys of Christmas break was getting a few mornings without setting my alarm. No buzzing. No beeping. No panic-inducing reminder that I had somewhere to be before coffee. And yet, on those mornings, I still woke up almost exactly when my alarm would have gone off. Apparently, my body has its own internal clock. Even when the external alarm is silenced, something inside me still knows when it’s time to wake up.

That experience stuck with me this week as I looked at our Bible reading plan posted in our Sunday bulletin. One of the readings is Romans chapters 1 and 2, and while those chapters are often known for some heavier theological themes, there’s an idea tucked inside them that feels surprisingly familiar—especially if you’ve ever woken up before your alarm.

In Romans 1, Paul says that God has made himself known through creation—that people can perceive God’s power and presence just by paying attention to the world around them (Romans 1:19–20). In other words, even without someone explicitly “setting the alarm,” there’s an awareness of God already built into creation.

Then in Romans 2, Paul goes a step further. He talks about people who don’t have the written law, but still seem to know right from wrong. He says, “They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness” (Romans 2:15). That sounds a lot like an internal alarm clock. Even when there’s no external reminder—no posted rules, no flashing warnings—something inside us nudges us. A conscience. A sense of right and wrong. A quiet awareness that some things are life-giving and others are not.

Of course, like a real alarm clock, that inner signal can be ignored. We can hit the snooze button. We can turn it off altogether. And Paul is honest about how often we do exactly that. But his point is clear: God has not left us without witness. God has not gone silent. God has built reminders into the very fabric of creation—and into us.

So, as you read Romans 1 and 2 this week, maybe pay attention to that inner alarm. Notice the moments when something inside you is stirring—convicting, comforting, nudging, or waking you up to God’s presence. Because even when the external alarms are quiet, God is still at work—gently calling us to wake up, pay attention, and live into the grace being offered.

May God hold you,

Rev Chris Hester