Here Comes The Sun

There is something about the sun. 

 

We, in Britain, are relatively sun-deprived for most of the year.  It is no wonder, then, that we get so excited at the slightest sign of sunshine.

 

Today has been such a day: despite still relatively crisp conditions, I have seen people out enjoying the sun in shorts and T-shirts.  I was not one of them.

 

There is something about the sun.

 

It makes us feel joyful and optimistic.  We feel hopeful and inspired and enthusiastic.  Everyone is in a better mood when the sun comes out.

 

Isaiah described how God's glory shines on His people in the same way that the sun shines on us:

 

        "Put your face in the sunlight.

        God’s bright glory has risen for you.

        The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,

        all people sunk in deep darkness,

        But God rises on you,

        his sunrise glory breaks over you."

 

        [Isaiah 60:1 MSG]

 

In Britain, we can get so used to the dark, gloomy, grey weather which is so common in our country.  We can forget what the sun is and how it makes us feel.  In a spiritual sense, we can get used to life feeling dull and gloomy and depressing, too.  We live in the shadows.  We forget that life was ever different and we doubt that it will ever be different again.

 

But when we see the sun, everything changes.

 

And when we see the Son, everything changes too.

 

 

 

 

Fully Restored

Today I have bought myself yet another shampoo and conditioner that claims to restore my nearly-dead hair.

 

My hair isn't in dreadful condition, but the ends are in a shocking state.  They are split and flyaway and fuzzy.  Today's wind/rain combo left me feeling and looking like Bertha Mason.

 

I'm not sure how much it will help my hair, but I am a sucker for a new product.

 

I am always on the lookout for the next thing that will restore and revitalise my hair, rather than acknowledging that the thing that would help my hair the most would be to stop dyeing it so much or straightening it so regularly.  If I looked after it better, I wouldn't need to spend so much time or money trying to restore it.

 

But rather than fix the real problem, I spend my time and money trying to alleviate the symptoms of the problem.

 

I think in a spiritual way I often chase after different things to 'restore' me too.  Rather than dealing with the 'root' issues (no pun intended), I will chase after things which will make me feel better in the short-term: things that will make me feel confident and secure and happy.

 

Instead, I need to return to God, who promises to fully restore me.

 

I love these Old Testament promises -

 

"The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost."

 

[Joel 2:25 NLT]

 

and         

 

          "This very day I’m declaring a double bonus—
          everything you lost returned twice-over!"

 

[Zechariah 9:12 MSG]

 

Rather than just dealing with the superficial symptoms of my problems - both hair and spirit-related - I need to go back to their roots and deal with the real causes.  And I need to ask God to come and fully restore me.

 

 

 

The Frustrations Of Unpredictable Weather

I have found the inconsistencies and unpredictabilities of the recent weather forecasts irritating.  Where snow is concerned, I want to know if I can get excited about it or not.

 

I'm not interested in "maybe" or "possibly" so far as the weather is concerned.  I don't want a percentage of the likelihood of snow or rain or sleet.  I want the actual facts.  I want to know what to expect.

 

Guessing is no use to me.

 

It's a bit like in one of Michael McIntyre's sketches where he says how whenever you ask someone for the time, if they don't know, they will still guess.  I think it's about three.

 

He says, I didn't ask you to guess the time.  I can do that myself.

 

Similarly, I don't need a weather forecast to guess the weather.  I can do that myself.

 

I appreciate that predicting the weather isn't that straightforward or predictable, so no matter how much I want to know for definite what the weather is doing, that won't happen.

 

Still, it would be useful wouldn't it? 

 

You'd know what shoes/coat to wear.  You'd know whether to bother straightening your hair or, more importantly, not to waste time straightening it if it is soon to face the rain.

 

It would make planning for life much easier.

 

But unfortunately, it is not possible.

 

I suppose the weather forecast is an act of faith: will we believe it or not? 

 

Similarly, our walk with God is an act of faith: I don't always know what's going to happen in my life.  I am not perfectly prepared for every eventuality.  But I don't need to be when I'm trusting in God.

 

Faith isn't so much about what you can see, but about what you choose to see and about who you trust to show you.

 

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

 

[Hebrews 11:1 NLT]
 

I will never get the perfect weather forecast that tells me exactly what I want to know.  There will always be an element of faith and trust involved.  And, this side of heaven, I will never get to know for sure what God is planning on doing in my life - I will never have the perfect 'life forecast'. 

But whilst I don't know what might happen, I know the One who knows.  And that's enough for me.

 

 

 

 

 

Reduced Visibility

I find driving when it's snowing really quite relaxing. 

 

Not when there's snow or ice on the roads, but just when it happens to be snowing.  I find the falling flakes completely mesmerising as they drift to the ground.  I'm not sure why, but I find it quite calming and soothing.

 

Of course, there is the fact that you can't see very well and therefore have to drive at half the speed you usually would.

 

Every time I stopped at traffic lights, I enjoyed pausing to look up and watch the flakes falling. But as soon as we started moving again, I kept my eyes firmly fixed on the tail lights of the car ahead and let them guide me through the darkening streets. 

 

The Bible advises this in a spiritual sense too,

 

       "Look straight ahead,
       and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
       Mark out a straight path for your feet;
       stay on the safe path.

       Don’t get sidetracked;
       keep your feet from following evil."

 

       [Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT]

 

 

Rather than allowing ourselves to be distracted or mesmerised by things on the sidelines, we should keep our focus fixed on what lies before us.

 

And although there will always be distractions, although we won't get to see things clearly, although we won't get to understand and see things the way God does yet, we will.

 

"We don’t yet see things clearly.  We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.  But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!"

[1 Corinthians 13:12]

 

 

 

Hold On Tight

I've been one of those wallies in wellies today.

 

Yes, I looked silly, but I thought I would have looked even sillier if I had fallen on the ice. 

 

Yesterday I found myself clinging on to some helpfully placed railings as I skated along the pavement.  It reminded me of my traumatising ice-skating experiences as a child which were mostly spent gripping onto the edge of the rink and edging my way round.

 

Even in wellies, I have been slipping and sliding all over the place today: it has been very risky underfoot. It has been difficult to get a grip.

 

In the same way, it can sometimes feel a bit slippery underfoot in a spiritual sense, too.  It can feel as though you are sliding out of control and can't quite get a grip on anything.

 

The Bible describes God's love as being what will hold us steady when the ground is slippery:

 

         "The minute I said, 'I’m slipping, I’m falling,
         your love, God, took hold and held me fast."

 

        [Psalm 94:18 MSG]

 

 

This verse doesn't say that God made the ground smooth, or that He took away the 'slipperiness'.  Instead, He promises to hold our hands tightly as we walk over the slippery parts of life.

 

So that rather than clinging onto the edge of the ice-rink of life, we can let go and trust in God's love which will always keep a tight hold on us.

 

 

 

False Start

As someone who is ever-hopeful for snow, the weather forecast for this weekend has left me feeling rather excited. 

 

However, whilst I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of the white stuff, I heard an article on the radio yesterday about the problem that this sudden cold weather will cause to lots of wildlife.  Apparently with the recent milder weather, the birds and the bees have been mistaking the season for the beginning of spring and have been starting their spring-time activities.  What's more, there are many flowers and blossoms blooming in fields and gardens, which will be killed off if it snows.

 

This cold weather will come as a bit of a shock.

 

Life can be a bit like that too.

 

Sometimes we feel sure that we have turned a corner, that spring is on the way.  Things in our lives seem to be finally working out, our lives seem on track.

 

And then the snow comes.  Winter returns.

 

A false start.

 

It is always difficult to pick ourselves back up again after a fall or to continue after a disappointment.  When we fail and fall, it is difficult to try, try, try again.  Instead, we feel like giving up.  Like curling up and hiding and not bothering anymore.

 

But the Bible says that when we fall, God will always pick us back up.  And with His strength, we can continue.

 

        "If the Lord delights in a man's way,

        he makes his steps firm;

        though he stumble, he will not fall,

        for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

 

        [Psalm 37:23-24 NIV]

 

 

We may fall and endure many Winters, but Spring will always come again.

 

 

 

 

 

Let It Rain

I wouldn't feel very British if I didn't post about the weather and the inordinate amount of rain we have experienced over the last few days.

 

Despite the need for rain for watering the ground and helping the crops to grow, most of us would rather it didn't rain.  Ever.

 

I am happy for it to rain when I am inside and warm and I don't have to go out in it.  But when I have to drive in the rain, or walk in it, I hate it.  I hate that it soaks through your clothes and leaves you feeling damp and soggy.  I hate that it takes ages to warm up and dry out again.  I hate that it makes your hair big and fuzzy.

 

I don't often hear myself saying, Let it rain.

 

But these are the words of one of my favourite songs:

 

        "Let it rain, let it rain.

        Open the floodgates of Heaven.

        I feel the rains of your Love,

        I feel the winds of your Spirit .

        And now the heartbeat of heaven,

        Let us hear.

        Let it rain, let it rain.

        Open the floodgates of Heaven."

 

 

The words of this song are based on God's words in Isaiah:

 

       "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
       let the clouds shower it down.
       Let the earth open wide,
       let salvation spring up,
       let righteousness grow with it;
       I, the Lord, have created it."

 

      [Isaiah 45:8 NIV]

 

 

Whilst we might not like the rain, it can be a sign that reminds us of God's goodness and grace and mercy and loving-kindness and forgiveness.  Falling on us and soaking us to the bone.

 

That's the kind of rain I want to be drenched in.