The sun is shining brightly today, and the warmth of a beautiful spring morning makes you want to toss any work aside and simply savor the reminder that indeed warmer days are arriving.  It is a reward of sorts for persevering through the winter season.  The memories of blowing snow, shoveling snow, and frigid temperatures kind of melt away as the sun warms the earth.  It is a reminder that God created an amazing planet for us to live on and enjoy.  A day like today should also remind us that our God is still very much in control of all that happens in this continued challenge of COVID-19.  Things are changing in the way we are dealing with the spread of the virus, which in some instances, causes more frustration and weariness.  Many questions still remain about what tomorrow may bring, but for today the sunshine should encourage us to remember the Creator who holds tomorrow.

The Israelites, God’s chosen people in the Old Testament went through many challenges as a people.  They had prophets who warned them of dangers and consequences of their rebellion against God and His call to serve and worship Him alone.  They had times of fruitfulness and blessing and they had times of destruction and captivity often accompanied by disease, famine, and hardship.  Many times, this is what it took for the people to repent and turn to God.  Many of the prophets who spoke for God are found in the minor prophets of the Old Testament.  One such prophet was Habakkuk. Like other prophets, he had his struggle with God in understanding God’s way of dealing with the people.  In Habakkuk’s short book, he has a discussion with God about God’s methods, specifically the use of the Chaldeans to invade and seize the Israelites.  The bottom line is God helps Habakkuk to understand His sovereign right to deal with Israel as they deserved.  Habakkuk ends his conversation with God with an expression of confidence (Hab. 3:16-17):

“I heard and I trebled within; my lips quivered at the sound.

Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood.

Now I must wait quietly for the day of distress to come against the people invading us.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines,

Though the olive crop fails and fields produce no food,

Though the flocks, disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls,

Yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!”

We begin a new week with much of the same questions and weariness that we had last week.  We long to experience what we might consider normal.  But we must remind ourselves that in spite of all is taking place each day that we must always turn to our God in praise and worship and rejoice in the God of our salvation!  Regardless, of all that may or may not happen, we can celebrate in the Lord and a beautiful morning with the warmth of the sunshine reminds us that our eternity is yet to come and it will be filled with Sonshine!  Celebrate the God of your salvation today!