Ecclesiastes 1:5 (NIV): The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
A few years ago my oldest daughter and I shared a memory of getting up early and watching the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. Shared memories are a blessing. We now want to plan to trip to the west coast to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. That will also be a blessing. The picture I chose for this Wednesday Word is another memory of a sun rise that I was blessed to share with my twin sister from her home in Texas.
The rising and setting of our sun is a cycle that started during the first week of creation. This cycle of light and dark is something that brings peace to my soul. It reminds me that God’s timing continues.
There are many verses from the Bible that give me encouragement regarding the regular cycle of morning and evening. One in particular, from Ephesians 4:26, says that I should let go of any anger I may have before the sun goes down.
How can I do that? Sometimes the circumstances have not changed, so how can I let go of my anger?
I believe the answer lies in my trust in God. If I am angry, that means that I think that I can be in control or that I think others should be. Instead, I should let go of my need for control and of my expectations of others, and place whatever was causing the anger in God’s capable hands.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the cycles of life. Thank you for the beauty of sun rises and sun sets. Thank you for the opportunity to trust You and to let go of my control issues in order to trust You.
