Wait for the Light!

When troubles come, we worry about how things might turn out. We feel uncertain about what we should do. If it seems that the outcome may not be the one we want, the one for which we pray, we feel hopeless and disappointed.

Having felt this way in times past, I love to watch the sunrises, particularly those over the ocean for they are so striking. Out of the blackness of the night, the first signs of dawn appear above the eastern horizon. The light is barely discernible, at first, but grows ever brighter. The sun rises slowly, its movement imperceptible to the human eye as the bright orange ball rises higher and higher, bringing welcomed light and warmth to a dark and chilly world. 

Sometimes clouds obscure this wondrous sight, as it did the morning when I took the picture posted here. But I waited patiently for the sun to rise above the cloud cover and to shine its glorious light on the earth.

In like manner, may you and I learn to wait patiently on the Lord to provide light for the dark paths on which we sometimes walk. As we wait, may we follow the advice David shares in Psalm 27:14, NIV:

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, 

and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!

As we wait for Him to act, may we be encouraged by what our God says in Isaiah 41:10, NIV:

“...do not fear, 

for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, 

for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you 

with my righteous right hand.” 

I Am With You!

I'm sure I've posted this verse before, but I need to be reminded, as perhaps you do, of the precious promises it contains. So...let's read Isaiah 41:10 again and again and reflect on it so that we will not fear--no matter what happens.

Eyes on Me!

In October 2013, my husband and I spent several days at Pipestem Resort State Park in West Virginia. Each morning and evening, several deer grazed quietly on the lush green grass outside our room in the lodge. Whenever we opened the sliding glass door, they would come right up to the patio, eager for food. Though they were wary of us, they stayed nearby, watching our every movement, as the doe is doing in this picture I took.

I thought about that experience with the deer as I read (two years later) the Jan. 20^th devotional in The Listening Heart by Judy Gordon Morrow.  Each devotional in that wonderful book is a summary of what she sensed God saying to her as she talked with Him each morning about the challenges she was facing. For that day’s devotional, she’d written about how she sensed Him urging her to stay focused on Him, to watch and wait to see how He would help her with all the difficulties she was facing. “…eyes on Me, ears attuned to My voice, hearts willing to obey.”

That, Dear Reader, is excellent advice for you and me. Our Father will help us with our challenges, with our “overwhelm,” just as He helped her! Be glad about that. Thank Him. Watch and wait expectantly. And continue to thank Him for His love and help. 

…fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed,

for I am your God:

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10, ESV