On my eastbound commute to work yesterday I had the privilege of seeing a glorious golden sunrise. Clouds patched the sky, each ablaze with brilliant golds as the sun transformed them from dismal grey to brilliant showcases of light and beauty. As I watched the sky transform with the rising of the sun, I praised The Lord for the beauty of His creation and looked forward to the day I will see His glory face to face. If that sunrise was but a taste of heaven's glory, I cannot imagine how breathtaking and awesome it will be to look upon the God who made it.
This morning's drive was not so captivating. The sky was covered with what looked like one giant dismal grey cloud from end to end. A patch here and there revealed that the sun was indeed still there and still shining, but it was a pretty gloomy sight compared to the glory of yesterday's sunrise. Underwhelmed, I was tempted not to think much about it at all, but I began comparing the two sunrises, wondering why one was appreciated and the other not. I soon acknowledged that God made both sunrises and that they are both worthy of appreciation and of praise.
These two very different sunrises are not unlike the different seasons believers face in life. During a season of blessing, we see God's glory, love, kindness, and faithfulness clearly, and we may even be moved to praise Him. But there are seasons where His glory is veiled behind clouds of trial and suffering, and we cannot see or sense the brilliance of His presence so easily. But our God is the Maker of both kinds of sunrises, and both kinds of seasons. They each bear the mark of His hands, and He has fashioned each sunrise and each season for its time. There are no accidental grey skies, no accidental pain or suffering. Like Job we must learn to praise The Lord for both the beautiful and the gloomy skies we face in life. Though our circumstances change, He does not.
As I looked at the grey skies this morning, I knew the sun was up there behind the clouds. Even though it's presence was not as obvious as it was yesterday, I never doubted that it was there or that it existed. In the same way, the darkest and gloomiest trials in life do nothing to change the facts of God's existence and presence, and should not shake our faith in these realities. He does not cease to be glorious, loving, kind, or faithful simply because we can no longer clearly see these truths in the skies of our circumstances. God's presence and His character are just as sure as the sun in every sunrise.
Today I didn't despair when I saw the grey skies ahead. I knew that not every sunrise will be as brilliant as yesterday's was, but I also knew that there are other days ahead where the sun will rise again in beauty and glory. Every day will not be as dismal as today. The grey and foreboding skies are only here for a season.
In the same way, believers can take heart, knowing that their trials and suffering are temporary. One day these things will be no more. Indeed, one day the Son will dawn and never set again. There will be no clouds to veil His glory, and no more tears, suffering, pain, trials, toil, sorrow, or death. Knowing this, let us praise Him no matter the color of the skies we see.
These reflections reminded me of a
song we sang in church on Sunday. The chorus joyfully proclaims:
"In a little while the wait will be over. In a little while the night will be past. There'll be singing, there'll be dancing and laughter, and we'll see the Son at last.
"We will see Your face with our own eyes. We will gaze with our own eyes full on Your glory, never have to look away… in a little while, in a little while."
Believer, if you have repented of your sins and turned to seek the Living God, if you are trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, shed on the cross for your sins, and if you have faith in Him, then your suffering is only for a little while. One day you will be raised up, never to hurt again, and the darkest clouds you've ever known will disappear in the beauty and glory of His presence. Hold on and keep fighting the good fight of faith!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Labels: every day life, reflections
