“With every sunset, there is a sunrise.”

I was driving a friend to the airport early one morning in California and noticed an amazing sight in the sky. Although it was nearly 6 o’clock in the morning and light from the new day was lifting the night away, I saw very clearly toward the west, a big bright full moon in the sky. This unusual sight compelled me to look eastward and there I saw a beautiful golden lining that was creating an ever-brightening glow over the skyline of the mountains. The sun was rising. The sky from left to right displayed one of the most beautiful works of art I had ever seen. Within a single head’s turn, I saw a dim sky with a very visible moon while at the same time a brightening sky with the sun rising up over a mountainous terrain. Being one who believes that there is spiritual significance in every natural thing, and one who believes that God speaks to us through nature, I wanted to understand the message that was being shared through this sight in the sky. Here is what the Spirit taught me in that moment:

“With every sunset, there is a sunrise.”

A sunset in life can represent many things but for the sake of this meditation lets use the idea of a sunset to describe an ending of something that once took place in our lives. It could represent the ending of a relationship or a work situation. A sunset could be the dissolving of one’s company or some sort of endeavor that much time and effort was put into. A sunset could be the transitioning out of a familiar season. What is even more challenging is when the sunset in our life is the death of a family member or close friend. We all know that life can and will present us with sunsets and they are often very challenging and can be hope-defeating. Sunsets can often tempt us to give in to entertaining the debilitating duo of depression and discouragement. Sunsets can be very difficult.

However, a very noteworthy fact is that whenever there’s a sunset, one of earth’s most beautiful occurrences in nature, a sunrise is occurring at the very same time in another part of the world. What a design! This reality is not of abstract significance but a truth imbedded in nature that communicates profound ideas that bring hope and healing to humanity. One truth is that even in the midst of sorrow or despair there will always be something to hope for. If we can avoid the myopia that trials often bring, we will see in the distance something worth the audacity of optimism. A sunrise also speaks to us that a new day has come. It boasts a new beginning and a moment loaded with fresh opportunities. Opportunities for great good are available to us with each day no matter how difficult the sunset may have been.

We must never allow the sunsets of our lives to rob us of the gift of expectation about what is to come at sunrise. Expectation is what awakens us to the possibilities of what could be and releases our freedom to dream again. This optimism and faith is what unlocks inherent creativity to manifest things in our lives and in our world that have never been seen before. Our optimistic expectation is what places us in the lane where the goodness, favor and blessing will meet us. Expectation is also what gives us the awareness to both recognize and receive goodness when it comes our way, rather than not seeing it or disqualifying ourselves from these great things because of the sunsets of our past. Knowing that every sunset in our lives will be met with an eminent sunrise liberates us from living life with the fear of another sunset befalling us.

Each day people from all over the world arise before dawn to catch a glimpse of the sun rising above the horizon and every single day that expectation is met. The sun has never failed to faithfully rise. If you have recently experienced a sunset situation or season in your life, I want to encourage you today to discover your current sunrise. Resist allowing depression because of a sunset to discourage you from driving out to that place that gives you a view of the horizon where the sun will rise again. Find that place whether physically or spiritually and wait for the sun to arise over you. It has been faithful to it’s job since the beginning of time and longs to be faithful to you today. Your sunrise is here. May it’s rays bring you joy, peace and fresh inspiration.

Prayer: Father, thank you for never allowing me to encounter more than I can handle. Lord, thank you for being my strength during difficult times. Although I may cry now, I believe because of your faithfulness, I will rejoice in the near future. Lord, I look towards you daily with optimistic expectation because of your love for me and your plan to prosper me. I choose today to believe your testimony concerning my life. I will forever give you thanks at both sunset and sunrise. Amen.

© 2012 Touré Roberts, “31 Tweets To Transformation”