There is Light

The warm weather is starting to make an appearance.  When the sun is out here there are days I can leave the house with just a light jacket. The birds are flitting here and there taking care of their spring time business.  Flowers are poking their heads from the ground, looking for that first bit of springtime warmth and sun. Insects are buzzing around.   I see the forsythia blossoming on the parkways, falling across the greening grass with yellow colored abandon.  It's encouraging.  It's heart lifting.  

Right now, it feels like we are in a dismal winter landscape.  Since I live in downstate New York, all we hear about is the latest numbers of the COVID 19 virus, what's being done, what's not being done...on and on.  Being in one of the hardest hit areas can take it's toll.  But I listen to the sounds of spring.  I watch the birds, and feel the warming air. Flowers, and yes, even and especially, the weeds are making an appearance.  I see all the gardening supplies piling up at the home improvement stores and I feel hope.  Spring reminds us hope is alive.  

Even when all around us is shrouded in gloom and worry, we are given a sign by the Lord of hope.  Spring's renewal.  This is what we need to hang onto.  Hope.  

I know the hope that is Jesus Christ.  I imagine on that saddest of days, Good Friday, when our Savior hung on the cross, bleeding and broken, death finally claiming His battered body, the apostles and His followers felt completely lost and helpless....but the Resurrection was coming.  Unbeknownst to them hope would arise.  Hope WILL arise.  

Psalm 30:5  For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.   

Jesus Himself gave us this lesson when He spoke of God's care of birds and lilies.   Matthew 6:25-31  25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

So if your mind gets to worrying over the turmoil going on, look to the birds and see our Father's care.  Let it calm your heart, knowing that His love for us is beyond imagining, that we mean so much more to Him than the birds of the air.  His love is perfect and His plans are right.  

Lord, calm our fears.  We look to You to carry us through this time.  Keep us and our loved ones safe.  We know You are in control.  You have the best in store for us.  Let us keep looking to You for our care.  We know that we don't always get carried around trouble, but You will always carry us through whatever trials we face.  Thank You.  Plant Your hope deep within our hearts.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.