The Sun Will Rise

Every morning, without fail, the sun rises in the East. It is never earlier or later than its expected arrival. Even on days when the sky is completely covered by clouds blocking out any view of this fiery star, it is still there, whether we can see it or not. Without the sun, life on earth as we know it, could not and would not exist. What a gift, this life-giving star of energy, sending its rays of light to earth.

Before I continue to expound on the theme of this blog, please note that this is not a science lesson, but merely some interesting observations I have made with regard to the sun and its connection to earth. My reasons for pointing them out at the beginning will become clearer later on.

With today’s technology, scientists have shown us that the earth rotates around the sun in an elliptical orbit. At certain points it is closer to the sun than at others. Yet, nearer or further on its current orbit, the sun’s distance from earth is optimum for human inhabitance of our planet. If we were too close to the sun, like Mercury and Venus or further away like Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, our Terra Firma would not be able to sustain life.

The sun gives us light by day and the solar heat provides energy and warmth to support life. The sun is essential for photosynthesis in plants and the production of vitamin D in human beings. Without these two processes, plant life and human life would not be able to exist. Even moonlight is created as a direct result of the reflection of the sun’s rays striking portions of the moon’s surface, to give us light at night.

As the quotation by Henry Ward Beecher on today’s blog picture states, “The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy”. It is difficult to imagine a world without the warmth, light and life-giving energy we get from the sun. There are people on this planet, who struggle with seasonal depression, if they live in areas where, for various reasons, they may not see the sun for days. So literally, the earth’s brightest star is able to light up our lives not only outwardly, but often inwardly as well.

When I read this quotation, I was reminded of bible verses, Matthew 5:44-45 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

God loves all of the people He created and He is no respecter of persons. He does not love one more than another. God loves all of His children equally and I have had to remind myself frequently of this truth, because losing Russel has definitely not felt like I am being loved by God.

I have cried out, “Why me Lord? Why did I lose my husband?” I began to wonder if I had done something wrong, if I had somehow invited this suffering into my life. I started mentally beating myself up over whether or not I had been a good wife and more importantly, if I had been a good Christian. Was I lacking in faith? Had I not prayed enough? Fasted, praised, pleaded, cried, begged or believed enough? Inside I felt that I must have done something very bad to deserve this pain and the loss of my loved one.

In that moment, when I hit the very lowest point of my anguish and despair, God spoke to my heart in a gentle whisper and Matthew chapter five, verse forty five came into my mind. I sat quietly sobbing and meditated on that truth for a while. I began to recall the names of many other women I know who are also widows, some having lost their husbands long before their old age. Beautiful, amazing, Christian women whose spouses had died and they were left alone. There was not one I could think of who in any way deserved such a loss.

I began to realise that Russel’s death was not my punishment for some imagined sin that was so bad my husband deserved to die! Instead I understood that what had happened is all part of this fallen world. Bad things happen to good people, just as good things happen to bad people. While on this earth there will be suffering. God made this clear in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I am so grateful to have Jesus living in my heart and when my mind falls prey to the lies and deceit of the enemy, I can bring my thoughts captive to Christ and He will replace them with His truth. Such a privilege and a blessing to be loved by God and to know without a doubt that he will never leave me, nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6).

My repented sins have been forgiven and I am washed clean by the sacrificial blood of Christ, who loves me so much that He gave up His life, for even me. I know without a doubt that, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death”. (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)

Thank You Lord and Glory to God in the highest!

Amen

#sun #light #widow