Yesterday morning I woke up feeling a smidge overwhelmed.
Yes, I know it was Easter. I was – and am – beyond grateful for that. Thankfully the wonder of the day wasn’t lost on me, but some obligations and responsibilites and whathaveyous popped to the front of my mind as soon as my eyes opened. And do you know what I did? I let those obligations and responsibilities and whathaveyous derail me before my feet had even hit the floor.
(Stupid human-ness.)
(It REALLY gets on my nerves sometimes.)
Since our little family was helping with some stuff at church pretty early Sunday morning, the boys left the house a few minutes before I did so that they could run by Starbucks. I finished loading my car with everything I needed, and by the time I pulled out of the driveway, my mood was somewhere between ick and blah. The stresses of the previous three or four days seemed to catch up with me in one fell swoop, and while I was looking forward to worship, I wasn’t looking forward to putting on some sort of fake smile-y face AT ALL.
(You had no idea I was going to be such a giant dose of cheerfulness today, now did you?)
(Please know that our regularly scheduled happy fun times will return within the next 24 hours.)
I was about a mile from church when a red light forced me to stop at a big, (typically) busy intersection, and when I quit thinking about the to-do list in my head long enough to notice what was in front of me, I couldn’t help but stare.
And the more I stared, the more I smiled. Because the Lord preached a mighty timely sermon to me right there on the edge of Brook Highland Parkway.
Oh my goodness. It was such a sweet reminder that no matter how we feel, no matter how we hurt, no matter how we wrestle and wrangle and worry, we can count on a very real truth in the midst of our day-to-day challenges:
The Light always breaks through the gray.
Always.
And while yes, the gray might hover over our circumstances from time to time, the gray won’t stick around forever. The gray can’t stick around forever.
Why?
Because the Light won’t let it.
And it’s good to remember that. Not only at Easter.
But every single day.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
Thank you so much. On Good Friday, I sang at my Papaw’s funeral. He was 85, but his death was unexpected. My sweet Mamaw passed away 16 months ago, and that still hurts. I woke up on Easter feeling like I couldn’t breathe. And I had to teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, dress the kids, go to lunch, hide the eggs, clean out my attic for a garage sale I committed to months ago, etc.
The hope that we find in Jesus is truly sufficient. Thank you for seeing the light in the gray. I need to see it today, in the quiet of Monday, with nobody to hug or cry on. I’m needing the Light to chase the gray away. And you’re right…it always does.
Wonderful reminder. When I used to teach teen girls in Sunday School, I always did a lesson where I turned out the lights in the room and shut the door and then talked about life without God. Pure darkness. Then, I opened the door and let the light from the hallway shine in. Darkness doesn’t overtake light, but the light dispells the darkness. Your photo proves that God is in the details, and He cares about us at every (dark) turn! He is Risen!
Thank you for that sweet comment. I was a real crank yesterday morning worrying about the meal, getting everybody dressed and out the door, and remember all the little details, I almost forgot to remember the true meaning. It makes me feel so much better to know I am not the only one!
Preach it, girl!
My Dad has been seriously ill and still remains in the hospital. His pain is fierce and hard to control. it has been so, so hard. I was dark and gloomy and about as close to really down as a person can get. But one evening, while driving away from the hospital and back to my parents home where I was staying with my Mom at nights, I was crying and fussing with God about the whole awful, unfair situation when I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw unmistakeably the most awesome, huge setting sun that I had ever seen. And as I was driving due east it was directly smack dab in the middle of my rear view. It was if God spoke to me that even in this time of my Dad’s life that may be near the end of his earthly time, God is always, always there shining his light on even the darkest of times. And he’s always good like that, no?
And BooMama, you are also a part of his light. It is bright. Very, very bright.
I really like this post! Hope y’all had a great EASTER!
Thank you, sweet Sophie for sharing the picture and the thoughts. God’s light does break through even the darkest night. I have always known this truth, but I really know it now as I walk through the darkest time of my life-the unexpected death of my husband 5 weeks ago. God’s light is bringing me comfort and hope and peace and sufficiency and grace. I praise Him.
I just love the way God speaks to us through creation. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, thank you for writing this. I just arrived back at my parents’ house after spending the day packing up from the last chapter of my life and entering into the next dark chapter known as divorce. It is so calming to know that at some point light will enter in again.
Amen girl! I love your funny stuff, but this spoke volumes into this busy girl’s heart.
Just when things see the darkest, God will show you a sign.
Not to be the downer on this post, but you really shouldn’t use your phone while driving, whether you’re at a stop or not. Most states are making cell phone use while driving illegal (hands-free is usually ok).
Pretty picture though and a good reminder.
this is a lesson I am clinging to, as the grey clouds are might present these days (both figuratively and literally)
We found out Sunday that our friend’s 28-year-old nephew died early Easter morning, leaving behind his wife of only 10 months. Those kinds of days are the reason we need Easter, and the reason God came here to be one of us. He understands, and nothing in this world can overcome Him.
Girl, this post choked me up because a.) I’m a mite hormonal and b.) My Easter was a little overwhelming and miserable. It makes me sad because I wanted to catch the Spirit of the day, but between feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck and guests wanting their ham 10 minutes before we were out of church, I admit, I was in a foul mood.
I needed to remember that worship for Who He is and what He’s done can be achieved even on a Monday after the rest of the Christian world celebrated.
Great reminder on this day! Just earlier this morning a friend and I were discussing how I feel as if I’ve been wrestling, worrying and thinking through some big stuff lately. The light breaks through!
Great reminder -thanks for the blessing!
LOVED this! Thank you.
Beautiful. I love when God reminds me in gentle, sweet ways. :)
I needed this as I had a depressing day AFTER our service. Our second son, 19 ,announced that he plans to move out at the end of May .What kind of happy is THAT supposed to put in “Happy Easter” just before I ordered Chinese food because my extended no longer celebrates :”pagan” holidays like Easter and Christmas? I couldn’t hold back my tears to see the menu. I am Convinced with a capital C that
Satan does everything he can to “derail” our thoughts as you say on days that are meant for us to celebrate the sweet, precious, risen SAVIoR ! I hate it when Satan succeeds in getting me to think see not God’s hand in my life but “the hand that was dealt to me.” I am still in need of seeing the Light in the grey. It’s a bad time right now.
Preach it, girl.
I maybe kinda sorta definitely needed to hear that today because today…well it’s been OVERWHELMING. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing that. I, too, was in a dark place this last week due to the death of our friend’s 21 year old son (overdose). I didn’t “see” the light like you, but the light of Christ did shine through. What would we do without that light? I can’t imagine living in the darkness forever.
Amen, sister. I drove to church with twin 11 month olds in tow like heck on wheels. My mood was not so church -worthy. Trying to get babies dressed, fed and myself dressed and caffeniated, I was not feeling so “worshipy”. But once we got to church, and heard these amazing songs, God just took it all away. I thank Him for being all forgiving and hopefully tolerant of my mood that morning. Thank God for renewal!!!
Well now. I just watched Carrie Underwood sing “How Great Thou Art” on Youtube (accompanied by Vince Gill) and then read your post and am currently a big weepy mess. :)
oh how I needed this. I have young lady who works for me that has a whole lot of “grey hovering over her circumstances” right now. I believe that God has been pursuing her. She just texted me about a big hurt that happened to her tonight. I was quietly pondering/praying that the seeds of Truth would not be choked out by her current circumstances when I clicked on your blog page. Don’t ever for one minute doubt that the words you put on this page are not used by God! He used you mightily tonight to encourage me in my prayers. Light can overcome darkness – we just have to have faith.
Thanks for giving me (or, to judge from the comments above, more like “us”!) something to remember in the midst of a little stress (I also have plenty of joys right now, but the stressor took me by surprise tonight and so I’ve felt sad/jumpy about it). This has made me decide that I’m gonna read a little more of a lovely book I’m enjoying, and pray a little, and go to bed. :)
Good word Boo … good word.
Crying. I really needed this. Thank you.
He’s using you for His Kingdom, and thank you for it! You can’t imaging how much I needed all that just at this moment!
I’ve also been in a funk since an accident on Jan 1 took away my ability to walk right now. Hopefully it will get better. But I cannot stand and I cannot work. So right now is dark.
And after reading about Emma Grace’s passing I had to work hard to get the Easter spirit. It shouldn’t be this hard but sometimes it really is. I feel so badly for their family I can hardly bear it.
I hope the light does break through soon.
Hugs
Marie
Hi. I don’t know you, but I really needed this today. Bad. Thank you for allowing the Lord to speak through you and into the lives of others. He works in cool ways like that, doesn’t He?
God bless!
Thank you SO much for this…you have no idea how much I needed these words today.
What a wonderful truth and great reminder! Thanks for sharing friend!
Amen. Just beautiful.
thanks for this…what a sweet reminder. I love it when that happens.
simply lovely!
Thank you so much for putting this into words! And for being willing to be used by God. My prayer lately has been to SEE what God is trying to teach me in those moments. To just slow down long enough!!
Beautiful! Love you, friend!
I had such a similar experience and wrote about it just yesterday! At the beach watching the sun rise last week, it disappeared all of a sudden. I knew the sun was still rising, but it was obscured by clouds… such a reminder to me that even when I don’t “see” God, He is always still there. The Light is alwasy there.
Love that you had this same experience, it just lifted my heart. God is so good!
Sweet Boomama! Love your heart! If you only knew how this spoke to me. My husband had surgery Friday morning. He is going to have a long recovery, so I drove the 75 mile trip home on Sunday morning to get some things ready to bring him home the following day. My heart was so heavy, kind of feeling sorry for myself, not even realizing it was Easter Sunday (I had a few days before but hospitals kind of do that to me). But as I left the city, I noticed all of the cars filling every church parking lot that I passed. Whether the church was big or small, the parking lot was filled to the max with worshipers. Isn’t that wonderful? I had been singing “Never Give Up”, which I still do, but changed my “heart” to “He Lives”……within my heart!!! Thank you, Dear Friend, for sharing that beautiful picture.
Did you all notice the cross in this picture, too. Way cool.
beautiful. I love how you said “the Lord preached a mighty timely sermon” to you in that moment at the stoplight. Isn’t it true how often He can pour volumes of His great love into us in the ‘smallest’ of moments if only we keep our eyes open?
I would have snapped a picture too -cell phone laws or not;)
(I’m a new reader here -coming from Blogher)
What a wonderful post! Made my morning~
What a wonderful post. It captured some of the same issues and feelings I was dealing with coming back from vacation and trying to satisfy the demands of 4 kids and their expectations.
Your perspective helps sooth frayed nerves. Thanks.
Awesome, awesome reminder.