The past few weeks there have been more dark, overcast and rainy days than I'd like. I know it's January, but this is the south right?
So, this morning when I woke up and noticed the clouds breaking in the sky and felt the temperature in the high 50s as I pulled our motorcycles out of the garage; I could not help but feel my mood lifting, even before we rode off to Sunday service at Freedom. I had not realized until that moment just how much being surrounded by darkness had taken its toll on me.
On the way to Clayton, the sun just seemed to burst out from the sky, and I thanked the Lord for it. That twenty mile ride was too short!
Needless to say, we took the long way home after church!
Some times our life can get to feeling like we're at that same point. We see all that is going on, in the news, or feel the pain of past and present hurts, it gets to be too much. We feel surrounded by darkness, we often forget what it feels like to be in the light.
Reading Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor."
Jesus quoted this scripture in Luke chapter 4. Later, speaking to his disciples about his death and resurrection he said "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33, (NIV)
That is where we live now, despite the darkness. That is the victory of Jesus, the joy of our salvation!
