Rainbows in the Night

I was asked to do a guest post on deni Weber’s website, 

Today’s Encouraging Words. 

     Click here to view deni’s page and read how God has used rainbows to encourage her at key times, and currently as she walks with her husband through an intense health crisis in his life. 

      I had not known that rainbows are so special to deni when I sent my devotional to her. I love how God works behind the scenes to help us in our times of need. 

Praises and thanks be to Him! 

Rainbows in the Night

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, 

and it will be the sign of the covenant

 between me and the earth”

(Genesis 9:13).

Rainbows! 

As children we thought they held treasures with pots of gold at each end. 

Don’t we all perk up when we see an actual rainbow in the sky? They can surprise us as we happen upon them. When rain has washed the sky and the sun quickly emerges, I look for a rainbow! If I am alert, I may see one.

Yet in this Scripture, we are told

 that God sets his rainbow in the cloud. 

His covenant is in the cloud? 

How can something so bright be shut inside darkened heaviness? 

Rainbows are a bounty arching forth as clouds’ heaviness can no longer contain the build up of water vapor. It spills back to earth as rain. The sun can splash prisms of color to celebrate this release.

 I understand the principle of clouds releasing rain but I never have set out to look for clouds.

Clouds pale, literally, when the sun splashes the prism of colors and a rainbow bursts forth. 

     What of the times our lives seem shadowed, overwhelmed with the daily challenges we each face? 

 We don’t always see the sun. Another Scripture helps me to respond to this question.

“[Nothing] will be able to separate us 

from the love of God 

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” 

(Romans 8:39b).

God’s covenant with us has not changed. All his promises lie within us where he dwells. The clouds may loom heavy but he towers with more power.

God and His promises cannot be separated. 

Our circumstances, our minds, our feelings can become clouded. Fears may bring heaviness, so dark.  Yet  the light of the rainbow inside us comes from God’s Presence. He has promises to give.

I can water the promises into view, so to speak, when I relax and allow God to release the rain, to carry my burdens, to care for me by his shining forth. His light tramples darkness, releasing his prism of promises.

 I want to focus, not on the heaviness, but on the colors about to emerge.

Prayer
Lord,  

I rejoice 

that the colors of the rainbow 

shine forth 

your hope, 

announcing your everlasting covenant with me. 

My relationship is not with the darkness 

and heaviness of clouds, 

but with you, the Light in my life. 

Amen 

Photo by Lynn

Let Light Dispel the Darkness

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. 

They had set night watches over their sheep. 

Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. 

They were terrified. 

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: 

A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. 

This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger”

(Luke 2:8-12 -  The Message).

Imagine that special night. Sheep were sedate from a full day of following their shepherds and ready for rest, as were the shepherds. The night was clear except for one brilliant star. 

All was still.

Then 

a burst of light 

an angel speaking

 glory outshining that brilliant star 

and they were terrified. 

Some translations record that they were sore afraid. Now that is mighty scared, scared to one’s innermost being. It is a surge of fear.

 A few verses later Luke records, 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

Why was this unexpected honor given to the shepherds? The work of shepherds was not a job of high profile. They lived solitary lives caring for their flocks. Yet God saw their faithfulness and chose to honor them. His favor rested upon them.

How can these thoughts be of help to any of us when the unexpected happens in our lives? We feel far from favored. We often feel solitary and set apart. We tire before day’s end. We expect too much of ourselves, often feeling we have disappointed our Shepherd.

Yet he knows each one of us. He knows the longings of our hearts and the times we are sore afraid. He knows something else.

Light, his light, always dispels the darkness.

How long did the shepherds stay terrified? Once the light and the message being heralded became real to them, they rushed off to Bethlehem. They found the Messiah, yet a babe in swaddling clothes. Then they were proclaiming, to all who would listen, the wonders of what they had seen and heard.

The stars in heaven still sing the same glory. 

The favor of the Shepherd rests upon us. 

We can spread his good news to those we encounter, even during our hardest moments, because light dispels the darkness. Yes, it did long ago, and yes, it still does today.

Prayer

Lord, in unexpected places, open my eyes to behold your glories. However you choose, help me to rush to a Bethlehem near me, proclaiming as I go,  the wonders you have displayed. Amen.

Look to and follow the Star in the night for that is when it can shine the brightest!

Click on the link below to hear this encouragement in song! 

Wandering Pilgrim 

words and music by Twila Paris

Lynn’s photo of a watercolor sketch by her friend, Dave Peterson. 

It was created to image this text. 
Thank you, Dave.