Light Dispelling Darkness

5:30 am... the alarm goes off and it's time to head to my breakfast meeting. I'm tired. The sun isn't even awake yet. The darkness reflects my heart; discouraged, weary, needing light.

Breakfast tastes good. The conversation is pleasant and it's good to catch up with a friend I haven't talked to in a while. But the darkness still lingers. The sun still isn't up, and I leave feeling heavy with questions I don't have answers to... the big questions... Why? How? When?

As I begin to drive home I pray to my amazing God. I ask for forgiveness and peace. I ask for help, encouragement, and hope. I have my own ideas of where hope should come from, and I trust that God will answer my prayer somehow. But still I doubt, not knowing what He will do or how I can get rid of this dark feeling within my soul.

Then the sun begins to rise...

It came up quickly, right on the horizon, right at eye level so I couldn't avoid it. The visor in the car couldn't block it out. Sunglasses didn't dim the light. Within minutes a giant ball was almost blinding me.

Then God spoke. I didn't hear an audible voice, but the Spirit brought to mind a flood of God's promises from scripture that whispered hope to my weary heart as I stared at the sun. Each spot of light I saw when I blinked was another way in which God answered my prayer.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 85:11

"The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life." Psalm 121:5-7

"the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;" Psalm 136:8

"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings." Micah 4:2

"In his [Christ's] hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength." Revelation 1:16

Verse after verse washed over me and I was given the answer to my prayer. I couldn't escape God's promises any more than I could escape the brilliant sunshine. I enjoyed hope and peace. All of my questions remain unanswered, but that's okay. I know God will take care of me and bring answers in His time.

As I finished my drive I praised God with some worship music in the car. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) seemed like an appropriate song, and I enjoyed watching the rest of the sunrise in a much better mood than I had been in for quite a while.

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