The Darkness Before Dawn

Psalm 18:28 – Lord, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness.

Dear Friends – Step out into the early morning hours and look up at the stars. They seem to be shining brighter in the darkness before dawn. It is as if each one is dancing across the cosmos to its own rhythm. Each star is melodiously hanging there in all its glory, singing songs of their creator, songs in the night that  only God can orchestrate. So it is with our lives and circumstances. When the darkness seems overwhelming and the black closeness would seem as if we are smothering in pain, brokenness, confusion and turmoil, listen with your heart to the songs of the morning stars. For it is in this quiet oneness with yourself, your Creator, and beneath the starry deep displayed overhead that God speaks to us. Let these words of hope, these words of encouragement touch the pain and brokenness in your life and awaken in you the knowledge that with God truly all things are possible.

God is ever speaking to us of Love. His arm is outstretched to us in want of a loving embrace if we will allow it. His love is there for us as we call on Him in desperation for deliverance, for relief from oppression, and direction when we seem to have lost our way. His Spirit speaks softly to the brokenness. His healing balm flows over the schism in our bodies, the confusion in our minds, reaching the very core of mankind, inspiring one to arise and soar with Him. His will is not that we suffer and die in a tormented state, but rather that we turn and let ourselves be healed.

Turn today, beloved, and let the songs of the morning stars ring loudly in your spirit. Let the darkness before the dawn become a beacon of hope as you allow His love to lighten your life, His strength to lighten your load, and His way become your way. So much time is wasted in worry and concern. So much time we could be spending with God, sharing our thoughts, our longings, our innermost pain, and yet we avoid this closeness as if our Savior is not concerned about the smallest of issues in our lives.

Truly if one could only grasp this agape love and it's most basic meaning so many lives could be transformed from darkness into light. For He loved us when we were not lovable. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to save us while we were yet sinners. We have no words for our defense. There are no works we can do or merits we can earn to open the door to so great a love. All we need do is ask Jesus to forgive us our sins, to come into our hearts and be the Lord of our lives. Lay it all on His altar of sacrifice. Lay down your heavy burdens for scripture says His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Make that switch today. Why continue to carry a load that is much too heavy to bear?

In one of my poems I used the phrase "I sense my smallness standing neath a starry moonlit sky". It is humbling, yet exhilirating, to just take a moment to look up at the Universe, all its vastness, all its beauty, and know that God that created this Universe created each one of us. The God that hung every star, called them all by name, calls each one of us by name as well. He calls us precious, beautiful, His beloved, His bride. He gives us counsel, comfort, love, encouragement, inspiration, hope in failing times, motivation in times of lackluster existence. He gives us strength in our times of weakness, the oil of joy for the spirit of mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He stands by us when others walk away. He stands with us in times of loneliness. We come before Him as walking wounded and He stands ready to help and to heal. He has sent His Holy Spirit to come alongside, to aid us in our time of need.

Yes, beloved, He never leaves us or forsakes us. It is not by our righteousness or by any works that we have done but through faith in Him we have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Take your eyes off the overwhelming problems and brokenness in your life today and place them on Jesus. Focus on His love and His care of His world and we as His dear children. We will not always have the answers to our petitions as we had hoped. Our questions may still be staring us in the face. But in the gift of another day, gazing up at the twinkling stars, let us be reminded that our God is still in control of our lives. He is still very much aware of the pain and lostness. Yet for just a moment let your mind be at rest, your troubled spirit find solace in the starry space, your loneliness and sorrow be replaced by the overwhelming Love hanging in the heavens and the absolute truth that the God that created such a beautiful existence for the whole of man is still working miracles and opening doors to greater destinies than our finite minds can grasp. Our God, through faith in His Son Jesus, waits to pour this Love into each heart that will open unto Him and allow Him to begin a work of grace that will change us from the inside out.

The answers will come in His time and not ours. We may not receive what we had hoped for, all wrapped up and tidy, hand delivered before we get up off our knees, but we will receive the greatest love that man has ever known. We will receive grace to help in time of need, a renewed strength for our journey. Meditate on His unconditional love. Meditate on His grace and His unending mercy. Meditate on His unfailing forgiveness. Listen to the songs of the morning stars and be reminded that nothing is too difficult for our God. No path is so dark that He cannot send out His light and show us His way. No problem is beyond Him, no need He won't supply. Believe it today, dear friends. Look up for your redemption draws nigh.

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