My
brother often gifts me with a picture he has taken of a gorgeous sunrise coming
up over the lake behind his house. His early morning texts boast such depth and
beauty and always brighten up my day. Last year I visited him and took in one
of those sunrises in person. I rocked on his porch with the warmth of a hot cup
of coffee toasting my hands and watched the light show begin as the first
morning sun emerged. I heard the bird’s morning song and felt the breeze blow
on my face
That morning the sunrise
belonged to me. And that’s when I realized you can’t borrow a sunrise.
Every time I go through a dark
period in life, there is a point where I get a glimpse of the sunrise. A ray of
hope that things are going to get better. That yesterday’s normal may never
return, but the new normal is about to shine through. In those times, friends
and family offer encouragement from their sunrise experiences. “I did this and
maybe it will help you too.” “Things are going to get better.” I have
appreciated the support, but learned I can’t borrow their sunrises.
If you are going through one of
those night seasons, I can’t loan you my sunrise, but I can offer three things
you can do while waiting on your own to peek through. It’s what the Psalmist
David did.
I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out
for help
And put my hope in your words. [NLT,
Psalm 119:147]
1)
First
you must get up. Wake up from the dark dread that you’ve been living in.
You may feel like you can barely put one foot in front of the other, but keep
moving. Stand. Drink some coffee. Speak to someone. Venture out. Push yourself
to start doing something that you used to do.
2)
Next you have to ask for help. The fiber of our human
support networks strengthen when you ask for specific things you need. “A hot
meal for dinner tomorrow would be fantastic.” “Could you arrange for someone to
mow my lawn?” “I’m calling to make an
appointment for counselling.” Put your pride down and ask for the help you
need. But much more importantly for the believer is to ask God for help. He is
the source of our strength, our healer and provider. But He likes us to ask in
order to show we trust Him.
3)
And then put your hope in Him. Learn His Word and put
your hope in that. “Know that God causes everything to work together for the
good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”
[Rom 8:28] “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is
possible.” [Matt 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 18:27] “Hide me in the shadow of your
wings.” [Ps 17:8] Find your key scripture for your situation that speaks to you
where you are. Then hang every hope on it.
You can’t
borrow someone else’s sunrise, but you will have your own. Get up, ask for
help, and put your hope in God. He’s working on a sunrise crafted just for you.
