Sunsets vs Sunrises…Grateful Hearts and New Hopes

 

“Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.” Mark 16:2 NKJV


“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV


I had a thought, about sunsets and sunrises, a few weeks ago. I jotted it down, knowing when the time was right that God would place on my heart the rest of what I should say…


You know how sin is sin and we should not compare one sin to another? I think the same probably applies to God’s blessings and mercies. That being said, I am human and I tend to partial one over the other when it comes to sunsets versus sunrises. Shocking, I know! 


I have always been a bigger fan of sunrises than of sunsets. I love them both, don’t get me wrong! But sunrises just feel closer to my heart. I never analyzed it much. Then I read a line in a devotion I was reading (I can’t remember the line, or the name of the devotion, sorry) and had a lightbulb moment: Sunsets are a beautiful reminder of the day God just gifted us. Sunrises are full of hope, and faith, for the new day God has place before us. 


We just finished celebrating Easter, and I had to include the verse above from Mark, Chapter 16. That first Easter morning had to have been the most epic sunrise of them all! All of God’s children awoke to a new hope…to The Hope that we all cling to: salvation!!!! And every day since then, not only do we continually have the ultimate hope in Christ, but our gracious Father grants us new mercies and hopes! Each morning, each sunrise is full of hope, grace, and spurs our faith in our loving God to persevere through the valleys and mountains alike. 


My friends, God doesn’t stop there! Each evening He grants us a beautiful sunset as an amazing reminder that He has kept His promises, that He has given us a hope and a future in Him. He promised to give us our daily needs, this is the hope we have with each sunrise. And each day He walks beside us, carrying us if we stumble, and making sure our needs are met. All of those sunsets are glorious reminders of just that. 


So, next time you catch a sunrise, maybe take it as an invitation to spend some time with God. Send up a prayer of praise for the hopes He gives. 


“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35 NKJV


And as you watch your next sunset, I encourage you to thank God for His kept promises, praising Him for His goodness, His mercy, His love, and His amazing grace. 


“From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalms 113:3 NKJV


My prayer for you this week is that you may catch as many sunrises and sunsets as possible - maybe all of them, God willing! I pray that you take them as an opportunity to praise God for all His hopes given and promises kept…and promises to come! Be blessed and be the blessing. đź’ž

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