by Anna Haiar
Finding Hope in the Sunrise
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Psalm 30:5b, English Standard Version
There’s something special about watching a sunrise. It requires some sacrifice—setting the alarm early, rising from a comfortable bed, and stepping outside before most of the world is awake. If you’ve ever done it, you know that the moments before dawn can feel surprisingly cold and quiet. The darkness hasn’t completely lifted, and the warmth of the sun hasn’t yet reached your face.
But long before you can feel the sun, the sky begins to change. A faint ribbon of light stretches across the horizon. The blackness softens into shades of blue, pink, and gold. You know morning is coming, even though it still feels like night. We’d be remiss not to mention that life with Christ can feel that way.
There are seasons when our prayers seem unanswered, our burdens feel heavy, and our circumstances remain unchanged. We continue to trust God, but if we’re honest, we’re still standing in the cold. We read His promises, yet we wonder when we’ll finally feel the warmth of His deliverance.
But God often gives us light before He gives us relief. He reminds us of His faithfulness through His Word. Perhaps He sends a timely conversation with a friend. Or maybe He grants a peace that doesn’t make sense or a quiet assurance that He’s still near. None of those things instantly remove our struggles, but they remind us that the darkness is not permanent. Dawn has already begun.
The sunrise never hurries, yet it never fails. Every morning, right on time, the sun rises over the horizon exactly as God designed it. In the same way, His faithfulness is never delayed by a single second. We may not understand His timing, but we can trust His character.
If you’re walking through a difficult season today, don’t lose heart because you haven’t felt the warmth yet. Keep watching the horizon. The first light of God’s promises is enough to remind us that He is still working, still present, and still keeping every promise He has made. Morning is coming.
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
