A few Sundays ago, at the beach, a few of us woke up early to see the sunrise. I was a bit demotivated at first, especially since we were on vacation, but my son in law convinced us it would be well worth it.
“I walked out onto a sandbar about a quarter of a mile,” he said, speaking of his adventure the previous morning.
So, when my phone chimed around 6 am, I quietly dressed and headed down to our rendezvous spot. A faint tinge of light was beginning to illuminate the eastern sky as we walked the block and a half down to the beach. When we reached the sand, we slipped off our shoes and headed east.
An orange band hugged the horizon, topped by a pale yellow patch, slowing replacing the night’s darkness, already taking on a light blue hue.
After walking a few hundred yards we turned right ninety degrees and waded toward the middle of the ocean. Walking on a sand bar, we kept going until looking back, the houses on the beach were distant silhouettes. It was breath taking. My son-in-law was not exaggerating. It was truly magical.
When the first rays of the sun broke through, we were all captivated by God’s splendor.
Several weeks have passed since our early morning adventure and I determined last night to greet the sun again. I’m several hours from the ocean, but live half a mile from a large lake. Using my StarTracker app, I determined where the sun would rise over the lake and was waiting in my convertible with coffee and journal in hand. As the sun rose, I wanted to praise the Lord for His new day sun.
But I saw no sun. The sky brightened, but only with lighter shades of grey. The eastern sky was covered with clouds. I would see no sunrise, but was determined to still praise my God for His beauties.
When I returned home, I pulled out a camping chair and enjoyed the crispness of the morning air. Sipping on my coffee it occurred to me that even though I saw no sun, the Son still shines.
Sometimes my days can seem totally grey. Hard times can block the light of my Lord’s nearness. What a great reminder!
God’s light always shines, even when I can’t see it.
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 4:18
His word lights my way.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
With God, there is no darkness. “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5
I have been called out into the Lord’s wonderful light. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” I Peter 2:19
When I was a young believer, we would sing a Song about the Lord being our Light, based on the following verses from Psalm 27:
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
Prayer: Lord, thank you. You’ve shown me, even on this cloudy day, Your light shines brightly. You are Light. In You I have no fear. Bring light into every crevice of my heart. Light my way I pray, that I might follow Your path for my life. Please give me the peace of your presence, even when all around me is dark and evil. Though I walk in the shadows, I will not fear for you are always with me.
One Thing! Lord, you are my Light. May my one overwhelming desire be to remain in Your presence and gaze upon Your beauties, even in the midst of my cloudy days.
Amen.