Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Where we live, sunflowers grow abundantly. They grace gardens in town, bloom as farmers' crops, and even wave jauntily from the roadside ditches. My young granddaughters are fascinated with these flowers and how they faithfully follow the sun from the time it comes up until the time it retires in the evening. Wherever the golden orb is, these beautiful and sunny flowers will have their floral faces turned toward it, uplifted with what could be termed a joyous expression.

As I contemplated this phenomenon of the sunflower, I thought about my joy and my following of the Son — the Son of God, Jesus, Who stated this truth: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b NIV)

In today's world, there is much darkness. In droves, people have turned away from God. With this turning away, a void has been created in our society, a void that has been filled up with godlessness, a looking to darkness, the darkness of our own human minds, rather than the light of the world: Jesus.

In light of this fact, and the consequences that we are seeing in our societies in the forms of violence, intolerance, hatred, war, immorality, mental illness, climate change, disease, and so much more, I find that I must be ever diligent not to become discouraged and fearful for the future. Rather, like the radiant sunflower, I, too, must follow the sun, the light of the world: Jesus. I must keep my face, my eyes, looking to Him and His truth, day and night, for He Who watches over us will not slumber nor let our feet slip. (Psalm 121:3)

By keeping my face and the eyes of my inner spirit focused upon Him, I am reminded that God is still in control. Jesus, the light of the world, is not dead. He is alive, now and forevermore, and He has a plan for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Part of that plan is that we should overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, an overflowing which results in peace and joy within, as well as without, in the form of a sunny countenance and a word or action of hope and encouragement to others that they, too, might come to know the light of the world: Jesus.

Prayer: Father God, how thankful we are, that as we look to You amidst the darkness of this world, we need not despair but rather be filled with an overflowing of hope, peace, and joy through the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Christ's name, we thank You. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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