Sun is Shining
Reflection
This past April 8, we in North America experienced a total solar eclipse when the moon passed between the sun and the Earth, casting its shadow on much of the planet. According to the NASA website, the eclipse started in the South Pacific Ocean, arrived in North America via Mexico’s Pacific Coast and continued through the United States, passing through several states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before entering Ontario, Canada and exiting North America via Newfoundland.* People all over the country travelled to position themselves within the “Path of Totality,” which, according to NASA, is where observers saw the moon completely cover the sun for up to four and a half minutes.”*
In the weeks leading up to the eclipse, predictions of looming destruction and conspiracy theories began to arise, evoking images of people dancing on rooftops wearing tinfoil hats in my mind. Meanwhile, for some in the church community, the pending celestial event prompted conversations regarding the coming apocalypse promised in Scripture. It reminded me that uncertainty, fear, doubt and destruction are associated with the darkness for so many. For the believer, darkness symbolizes a spiritual condition in which we lose sight of or are separated from God.
Application
In Psalm 30:5, attributed to King David at the dedication of his house, he speaks to those times in our lives when we find ourselves in spiritual darkness. Whether due to sin or no wrongdoing of our own, circumstances such as illness or loss can cast us into spiritual darkness and can leave us feeling sorrowful, frightened and even abandoned. The Psalmist writes:
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for a night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NASB
Note the parallels between His anger, weeping and the night. Yet, the psalmist extends an additional word of encouragement explaining the nature of God’s anger, the weeping and night. Specifically, God’s anger is “for a moment,” and weeping only lasts “a night.” The psalmist carries on with more words of comfort, making a parallel between God’s favour and joy. He reminds the reader that contrary to His anger, which may last a moment, God’s favour is “for a lifetime,” and unlike weeping, which may linger for a night, rather than just joy - "a shout of joy" comes in the morning.” As long as we find ourselves in the present age, morning will always follow night. The night may seem long, but morning light will indeed come.
What an amazing and comforting truth about the nature of the God we serve. What a powerful message for those times in our lives when, for whatever reason, we find ourselves in seasons of spiritual darkness when, just as the moon, which for a while blocks the radiance of the shining sun, sin, sickness, or loss might block our view of the Saviour.
Are you experiencing a period of spiritual darkness?
I encourage you to remember God’s character, the promise of the morning, and that, just as the sun continues to shine behind the darkness of the moon, the radiance of our Lord, his eternal love, faithfulness and grace never ceases.
Yours in Christ,
Brad
NASA References
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/
