"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble,
and keep on praying." Romans 12:12 NIV
This morning I woke up early to spend some time in prayer and to collect my thoughts. As the time ticked on during my quiet time, I heard some birds chirping outside so I went over and glanced out a back window. To my delight, the sun was just beginning to rise and the bright rays were peeking over the horizon. I stood and watched, absorbing the sheer wonder of the start of a new day. Finally, when the boldness of the sun bounded into the sky, I could literally feel my spirits lift. A new day had dawned! That’s when I realized that there was a spiritual lesson to be learned.
I was appreciative of this fact: After going through a battle, it is nice to see the sunrise! The darkness that fills your circumstances gives way to the light.
My thoughts drifted to Francis Scott Key, as a man of my age… standing and looking for a banner of hope to be waving in the dawn’s early light. I could relate to the battle, though ours are not necessarily of “flesh and blood”. Sometimes those battles are ours; other times we have to watch others go through trials. As Key sat watching the battle - we sit, pray, and hope that everything will come out as it should. We look for the glimmer of hope on the horizon. We trust the Lord, our banner, to be glorified.
The raging battle at Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 looked grim for the United States; yet that trial left a “watermark” in the annals of history as a testimony. Though the battle itself is not often thought about too much in this present day, we now have a Nation Anthem that was birthed out of conflict!
What magnitude the light brought as it dispelled the darkness; illuminating the blessings of today and bright hope for a better tomorrow.
It was true then:
Seeing the tattered United States flag fluttering in the breeze, Key had picked up his pen and wrote the words to “Defense of Fort McHenry”, from which we obtained our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”. Even his words that speak of the bombs bursting in air gave proof to the fact that the flag still flew! The battle itself provided proof in the darkest of night because he was still able to see the flag when the battle lit up the sky.
It is true for us now:
Even when we walk through the darkest shadow of trials we still see God. He is fixed, anchored, and sure. He is our confident hope.
Our trials in life are often where the rubber meets the road. They are merely bursting bombs that for a brief moment light up the content of our lives. There’s no better to way to see what a person really thinks, feels, or how He acts. The grid of his/her spiritual character will come through every time. If he/she is a person who aligns themselves with Christ, the battle will light up Christ in us (Jehovah Nissi- the Lord our banner). When the battle is over, will He still be evident in your life?
Battles wear on us whether we are prepared to face them or not. When we’re bombarded by “spiritual bombs” it’s hard to see the victory banner in the midst of the smoke and darkness. But take heart! Sometimes the battles you are facing today are a “watermark” for your journey in life.
Have you been in a battle today?
It’s time to take the proper attitude as Key did and begin to pen a praise to God “who preserved us”.
He also said “In God do we trust”! Don’t stay stuck in “battle mode”.
It’s time to kick the dust off of your feet and look forward to forging into the new frontier!!
His light has come to dispel the darkness and give YOU blessings today and a bright hope for tomorrow.
A new day has dawned in your life today!
