Trusting – Page 2

Sunrise and Sunset: Evidence of God’s Goodness

March 6, 2017

Arizona is known for its glorious sunsets. From the back window of my house I can watch the changing colors blaze across the western horizon. At times the view is absolutely breathtaking. This photo was taken a few blocks from my house. A few weeks ago, the sky turned a shade of red so intense I couldn’t think of anything on earth to compare it to. The camera on my phone was unable to do it justice.

The psalmist David said, “They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy” (Psalm 65:8). Yes, sunrise and sunset must take place every day, but God arranged atmospheric conditions so we’re frequently treated to a beautiful display of vibrant color. He didn’t need to do that. The spectacular colors are a bonus.

The real message in sunrises and sunsets is their predictability. Every day the sun comes up, and every evening it goes back down. No need to be sad when it sets, or to worry whether it will rise again the next morning. It will. Some days the sky may be covered in thick clouds that hide the sun from view, but we don’t doubt that it’s up there shining away, or worry that it won’t rise again the next day. We can count on it.

In the same way, we can always count on God to do what His Word promises He will do. Like the sun shining behind the clouds, even in the darkest times He’s there, working behind the scenes. God told Jeremiah the prophet, “I am watching over My Word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12). Some versions say he is hastening to perform it. Our God is faithful. He knows what His Word says, and He is actively engaged in bringing it to pass.

Some days, when things don’t seem to be going as we hoped, we may have a hard time seeing God at work in our lives. At times like this, I find myself wondering, “Where is God in all this?” Of course, the answer is simple. He’s right where He belongs. The problem is not with Him, but with my losing sight of Him in some way. I have let clouds of doubt, fear, or other negative emotions block my view of God’s grace and goodness.

The antidote is equally simple: open up the Bible and read what He says about who I am and what I have in Him. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans10:17). When I refocus on the truth of God’s Word, the clouds soon clear.

Consider some of the words God is hastening to perform, such as His promise never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and the assurance in Lamentations 3:22-24 that “His mercies are new every morning.”

Next time you see a glorious sunset, remember that those amazing colors are just “God’s little extras.” Remember the important message of every sunrise and sunset: God is “on the job!” He is faithful. We can count on Him.

Faith, Patience, and Autumn Leaves

October 27, 2016

Fall is in full swing here in the Midwest. We’re being treated to a continually changing display of bright red, orange, and gold foliage. Do you know what causes leaves to turn from green to these brilliant colors? The answer is fascinating. Throughout the tree’s growing season, every leaf contains yellow, orange, and sometimes red pigments, as well as the green ones called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gives leaves their deep green color in the summertime and plays a very important role in photosynthesis, the food-making process that feeds the tree.

This summer, I tried to visualize all those autumn colors already being in the dark green leaves of the trees outside my window; but though I knew the colors were there, they were hard to picture because I couldn’t see them. The green chlorophyll completely blocked all the other colors.

Then shorter days and cooler temperatures signaled the leaves to stop making food. They began losing that intense green and took on a translucent appearance. Because the trees won’t need food during their winter dormancy, as the chlorophyll broke down, it was not replenished. As more of the green pigment disappeared, all the other colors became visible.

Of course there’s a life lesson here. My high school students often accused me of finding a lesson in everything, but this one is pretty obvious. Those colorful pigments were there all the time, but we couldn’t see them. Likewise, whatever situations we may be facing right now, underneath the circumstances there is unseen goodness and beauty waiting to be revealed. In Hebrews 6:12 we are told that through faith and patience we inherit the promises. What promises? For one, that God is behind the scenes working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). We need faith to believe this, and patience to let Him work it out.

I have a situation right now that, while not earth-shattering, has required me to exercise faith and patience. The flooring that was to be installed in my condo on October 17 was discovered to be faulty – after the workers had removed the carpeting from the dining room and half the living room! It turns out that an entire factory run of material has the same problem and has had to be recalled. The manufacturers think there is something wrong with their machinery.

Since I’m leaving for my winter quarters in Arizona two weeks from today, I’ll have to wait till I come home for Christmas to have the new flooring installed. This is not a big thing in the overall scheme of life, but the cement-slab floor décor and spare bedroom piled with books, furniture, and installers’ materials and equipment were not what I had envisioned for my last two weeks at home. I had pictured the new floor in place and all the furniture and other items back where they belonged. Does this look like a guest room where you would like to stay?

Just like the beautiful autumn colors that were hidden by chlorophyll in the leaves outside my windows, there is gold hidden in this situation, waiting to be revealed in its season. Good will ultimately come out of this, because that’s how God is. I’ll let you know when I discover it!

I can’t help but keep thinking of Psalm 138:8 which says, “The Lord will perfect all that concerns me.” Because the floor in my condo concerns me, through faith and patience I will inherit that promise, too. Not just finished, put perfected!

Judy A. Knox — “Discovering God’s Goodness in Everyday Life”