Rays of Light

Driving home from the hospital yesterday evening, I was greeted by the brightest sunset I have ever seen. It is as though God’s glory stood in bold defiance to the darkness that has pervaded the lives of too many friends this week. Two have lost a loved one suddenly and unexpectedly; the first to a car crash and the second to a heart attack. One is in the hospital recovering from a very serious and difficult surgery, a few have lost jobs and several others are facing various other struggles -difficult ones.

Though my eyes were still quite sensitive from a long-lasting migraine, I couldn’t help but gaze repeatedly towards the brightness of that beautiful sunset. Whenever light so brazenly eclipses the surrounding darkness, it just seems to proclaim a message of hope. I thought of the friend I had just left.

“You look wonderful,” I had assured her with all honesty. She smiled. “Only because God has been so good to me!” she replied warmly. Without divulging any of her personal information, let me just say that my friend is really going through quite an affliction – one that would cause most people to crumble beneath its weight. She, on the other hand, remains filled with the kind of deep inner peace that defies all logic.

For ten minutes, she joyfully shared with me the numerous ways which God has provided for her during this time of great need, as well as the opportunities she has had to share this testimony with others. Then, with an unexpected brightness in her eyes, she proclaimed: “I can never express how much goodness and mercy God has shown me during these last few months. Now I understand, more than ever, how much He loves me. I am truly, unconditionally loved! God loves me – not because of anything I have done, not because I am deserving –He loves me JUST BECAUSE!” Lightly tapping her forehead she said, “I’ve always known it here,” but because of everything I have been through lately,” she finished with her fingertips at her heart, “now I know it here.”

I had come to the hospital to encourage my friend in her time of need, but God had already strengthened her spirit in a way that no man is able. “God is in complete control,” she said, “so I’m not worried or stressed. I can just rest in my Father’s arms while he takes care of everything.” That is just where I left her, resting in her Father’s arms. She has a long way to go, but a brilliant light has shone through her darkness and I am certain she will prevail over this affliction stronger than ever.

As I drove, I continued to pray for my other friends as well, especially those who have suffered such grievous losses. They too need the kind of peace which passes all understanding. Again I looked at the sunset. The sun appeared low to the ground and completely full. Its middle was covered by the dark clouds of evening, but even they could not diminish its brilliance. Above the clouds, wide rays of light stretched in every direction. The biggest of these spotlighted a large swath of sky, bathing it in mid-afternoon brightness.

“My dear friends,” I thought, “dark clouds may have covered you for now. And they may be telling you that it will be night for a very long time, but there is a light which pierces through every darkness we face; it is the goodness and mercy of God.”

I wish I could have photographed that sunset and showed it to those who were grieving. If only they could have seen how the sun’s beams literally split the darkened sky and shone through in every direction, and sensed in their hearts what I did at that very moment, it might have helped ease their grief at least a little. We cannot stop darkness from overshadowing us at times any more than we can stop night from arriving. But as surely as the sun rises to meet each new day, God’s mercies are new every morning! We have His word for that.

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. – Lamentations 3:22-24

The burdens of this world are just too great for us to bear alone. We may face many “dark nights” but God’s love will pierce the darkness and give us hope and peace. And when we are too grief-stricken or too weary to make it through on our own, He wraps His loving arms around and helps us through step–by-step, carrying us if need be.

Why? Because He loves us. He loves us not because of anything we have done, nor because we are deserving –He loves us JUST BECAUSE!”