Hoping for Some Sunshine

Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.  –Psalm 113:2-4 

On a day like today, with fall pretty much here, I realize all over again how much I thrive on sunshine.  I not only thrive on it, but I actually crave it to the point that I have to fight off the blues on a cloudy day.  Perhaps you can relate to this feeling of being a little down on days when the sun isn’t shining.  I actually feel cheated somehow if the sky is cloudy all day.  I know the sun is up there behind those clouds and it just doesn’t seem fair that the warmth it provides doesn’t  shine on me every day.  But life is like that, right?  Some days we have to persevere and wait for the clouds to part.

Notice that the psalmist said that the name of the Lord would be praised both now and forevermore.  He would not wait until he felt like praising God.  Neither would he wait for the right moment or a time when the sun was shining.  Rather, he would lift his voice to God and proclaim praise to Him regardless of the circumstances of his life.  From morning until evening he resolved to go about in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving all the while acknowledging that the Lord rules and reigns over the entire world.  Such an attitude empowers us to look to the Lord in praise and rejoicing no matter what sort of problems we may be facing. 

Let me pose a question: Is it realistic to think that we can go about our daily lives in an attitude of praise and thankfulness to God?  I would answer that question with a resounding “Yes!”  Through faith in Jesus Christ we can find the spiritual strength to rise above the stress, problems, and trials we face as a part of life.  We can, so to speak, soar above those dark clouds when they come our way.  And they will come; of that we can be certain.  Being a follower of Christ is not about surviving life, but rather it’s about living the abundant life Jesus promised.  Living in such spiritual victory is not contingent on all our problems being solved, having a truckload of money, or having all our plans coming together just the way we want.  Walking daily in spiritual victory comes when we trust the Lord and look to Him no matter what, through any and all circumstances, good or bad; we put our faith in God. 

Seems I heard a little while ago that the forecast is calling for sunshine tomorrow.  How wonderful!  But even if some clouds come along we can rejoice.  Trust the Lord, my friend, and look to Him.  The troubled soul finds joy and peace on the cloudiest days of life by trusting in Christ Jesus.   

Rain or shine, He is with us.