by Bonnie Hays
I miss the beach. Sun, sand, and ocean are my happy place! One of my favorite things to do is get up early, while it is still very dark, and drive to the east coast to watch the sunrise. It thrills me to see the huge fiery-red sun move higher and higher in the sky; its rays of light overpowering the darkness. It makes me feel hopeful, happy, and eager with anticipation about the new day.
One of the words in my heart for 2020 is Rising. The image of that big sun coming up over the east-coast sky keeps playing over and over in my mind. Darkness has no chance when the light shows up. I’ve been thinking a lot about Scriptures like:
- “Light arises in the darkness for the upright” (Psalms 112:4)
- “But God rises on you, His sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness” (Isaiah 60:2)
- “But for you, sunrise! The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name, healing radiating from its wings” (Malachi 4:2).
2020 does not look like I expected it to look! In fact, it seems pretty much opposite of the good promises I felt God put in our hearts for the New Year. But there is a stirring inside of me, a glimmer of hope and encouragement, that through the darkness – the sickness, economic hardships, even death – God’s powerful light IS RISING!
He is the master of breakthrough, the God who is always good. He delights in creating beauty from ashes, joy from mourning, rivers from deserts, and yes, light from darkness!
I can see the sun starting to rise. I see God’s powerful rays of light piercing through the darkness. I hope you see it too!