Sunshine and Storm

It’s easy to feel happy on a sunny day when all is well, the birds are singing, and life is going along swimmingly. But what happens when waters are rougher, bad news comes, or the days feel just plain hard? The presence of trials does not equate to a lack of God’s Presence. If we are going to have enduring faith, it’s important to recognize that suffering and difficulty shouldn’t cause us to feel unstable or unloved.

God wants us to feel gladness when times are good and when they are difficult. He has made each and every day. We are called to rejoice in all of them whether good or bad. Happiness is determined by our circumstances, but true joy comes from relying on God in our darkest hours. When we can sing God’s praises no matter what, we will find satisfaction that cannot be stolen or shaken.

We don’t know what the future holds for us here on Earth, but we can find delight in the knowledge that our Eternal Home is secure and unshakeable. The more we focus on God’s Faithfulness, and the reality that He will keep all of His Promises, the more we can find gladness in any circumstance. As we look toward the Perfection of Eternity, we can have a more holistic perspective of our time on the Earth. With Eternity in mind, we maintain hope and realize that God is near no matter what our day looks like.

So, what does it look like to trust God with our future no matter what our circumstances look like? How can we practically live this out? We can practice gratitude and take time daily to notice His Faithfulness in our lives. We can intentionally learn more about His Character so that when trials come, we are steady and sure that He is Good. We can cultivate the practice of praising Him no matter what is happening around us. Then, our faith will be based on Truth and not our fleeting emotions. Whether we are experiencing sunshine or storms, God is Faithful and worthy of our highest praise.