Last weekend we had the gift of viewing an exceptional sunrise. Facing east over the Atlantic, storm clouds were just on the horizon, far off to sea, as we waited. Lightning was occasionally visible in those clouds, which made for a mild light show.

The stars were clear and bright overhead where we were, but then the gentle light of the approaching sun began to alter the view. As the sun rose, the stars and clouds faded away completely.

Across the ocean, the thunder and lightning continued on. Rain kept pouring from those storm clouds. Stars continued in outer space, ready and waiting to appear again in the evening.

But,

Light obliterated darkness. A compelling power worthy of full attention pushed everything else to the background. There was a glory in view that overwhelmed circumstances.

As we watched I thought about how true this is in our lives also. What a merciful reminder each morning. We can focus on the storms or the light. We can look at the trouble or at our glorious Christ and our eternal hope in Him. The troubles won’t cease to exist, but they fade to proper importance. There is more to life than the unsettling storms.

So we do not lose heart…
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are transient,
but the things that are unseen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:16-18)