Dawn

Darkness creeps, shimmies up the shadows, trellises the trees. But the clouds still hang on to hues of pink, hues of the sun. So, we hang on to hope even when darkness invades.

The memory of sun lingers in pink hues. It is remembering tomorrow. Our hope is memory projected—the memory of Israel, the memory of God’s people throughout the ages, the memory of God’s faithfulness projected into my own life, my own future.

The darkness may be deep and strong. Yet, the soft hues linger. Hope is courage. Courage to raise our eyes above the circumstances and fears. All seems to scream it is lost. Soul shouts it is easier to not hope than to be disappointed… again. But we can do so, not because we have such a strong will or firm resolve. We can lift our eyes above the darkness, to where the sun still shines, beyond the horizon, because there is an objective reality and truth that gives hope. The sun is still shining beyond the darkness. God is King in history, daily minutiae, and world events—reality. God is good and loving—reality. God is powerful—reality. The Son is risen and has given us new life and will bring us to himself in glory—reality.  

Hope is faith’s offspring, faith’s eye, faith telescoped. Hope being certain of what is yet to come. The unseen tangible. The hue of pink that is real, but a sign of the sun not yet seen but that will rise tomorrow.  

La Palma - Luc Viatour / www.Lucnix.be

Who hopes for what they already have? Hope begins in the pain of not, the dark world that led to crucifixion.

Hope is the interlude between the crucifixion and resurrection. If we dare, we hope for more than recompense, which is not enough—it still hurts, it still is wrong. That is the beauty of the resurrection, restoration. It is not just a reward or recompense or pat on the back, but a making new, restoration… Yes, pain will still be there, but it is actually brought into and used, not worthless, not just covered over with something new. The ashes become the crown of beauty. The tears are transformed into the oil of gladness, both running richly down. The faint spirit that robed us now becomes a glorious crimson garment of praise (Isa. 61:3).

Hope perseveres because it is from the God of hope, the Spirit that gives hope. Hope endures because it is given to us by the eternal Son whose kingdom will endure. Hope persists because it is part of the kingdom that will never conquer, will come, will never end, a part already here, already touched the untouchable.

Darkness only welcomes the dawn. Hope.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).