It was still dark when he pulled his black van into the driveway. I poured the coffee into my cup, pressed on the lid and slipped out the door.
My brother and I were becoming sunrise chasers, it seemed. The thought brought a smile to my face. Gratitude filled my heart as I remembered the years of distance and silence between us. Years without hearing his voice or hugging his neck. Until that day.
The day we knew our dad was dying was the day God brought my baby brother back home to us. Calling him with the news, the unfamiliar sound of his voice on the other end all came back to me as we made our way over the bridge towards our now familiar place on the sand.
I’ve heard it said “it’s darkest right before dawn.” The thought came to me as I glanced out the window at the black, clear sky. But as we pulled into the usual parking spot and gathered our coffees, I realized the hint of what’s coming was all around us. The sky was beginning to glow around the edges.
We crossed the boardwalk and stepped onto the sand. The glory of early morning silence, the stars giving way to the light and the waves lapping at the shore in greeting were enough to make me want to clap for God.
I couldn’t help but think how these sunrises were such a beautiful parallel to life and even to the return of the Son Himself. The restored relationship with my brother was a small gift compared to the soon coming Son of God. The trials had seemed so long, so difficult. But the light was dawning.
Our world seems so dark these days, doesn’t it? The night sky seemed dark too.
But the light is beginning to dawn all around us, if we are willing to see it from God’s perspective.
In the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying such power. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
The stars will soon be swallowed by the Light and the Morning Star will appear on the horizon. The King of Glory is coming back for us. These last days, however long they seem, however dark they appear and however painful they are, are brief in the landscape of eternity.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials...(1 Peter 1:6)
But take heart, dear Christian, we are soon to obtain the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls! (1 Peter 1:9) The blessed Sonrise is coming, as sure as the sunrise came this morning and will come again tomorrow.
Are you ready? Are you in the Word, knowing His heart, pressing in to see from His perspective and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior? If not, start today! The sunrise is sure and so is the Sonrise.
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Mariel, So beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this, very touching. Blessings.
Visiting from FMF#5
Thank you, Paulaโค
Mariel, I am so grateful the Lord restored your relationship with your brother. May each new sunrise remind us of the faithfulness and provision of our God every day.
Amen!
Beautiful story and encouragement. Thank you!
Thankyou for such encouraging words.
They say monsters roam the night
and it’s darkest ‘fore the dawn;
oh, God, please show us your light
for the pain goes on and on
for the people of this nation,
for us in this hour of need;
let us feel an exultation
when we see You plant the seed
that will call us to Your presence,
that will call us to Your heart,
that will place in us the essence
of Your love that we may start
to achieve a world remade
to honour blood with which You paid
amen.
A big loud AMEN!
๐
I wonder if my first comment went through. It was simply, AMEN.
Sunrise and, coffee, two of God’s great gifts! Thanks for this message.
indeed they are! you’re welcome.
I love this – sunshine chasers! Living up here in North Dakota where it’s so wide open, the sunrises are spectacular! Thank you for sharing this with us. ๐
Oh I bet you get stunning sunrises there! ๐
I love this, friend! Beautiful โฅ๏ธ๐๐ผ
Thank you, sweet Sarah ๐
I’m not sure about it being darkest before dawn, but I sure know I wouldn’t appreciate the light without having experienced the darkness. My husband bought me one of those As Seen On TV tap lights for Christmas this year. Just last night, I needed to pull something out of that closet, and with joy and ease I had instant LED brightness at my fingertips. It put a smile on my face thinking about all the times I struggled in the closet’s dark recesses, knowing those days were gone. Thank God for the light!
Amie, FMF #23
YES!! “I wouldn’t appreciate the light without having experienced the darkness” I am clapping in agreement to that one, sister!!! AMEN!!
That was beautiful. Such an encouraging story hearing the restoration of the relationship between you and your brother. Visiting from fmf #16
God is so good! ๐
Chasing the sunrise! Absolutely love that thought! Beautiful post, thanks for sharing.
thank you! so grateful it blessed you!
Amen, and amen! We have this hope in the coming of our Lord! I’m glad you and your brother reconciled <3