In my weakness your glory appears

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I’ve looked at this picture a bunch. It’s one of my favorites I think I’ve ever taken. I love it for the simplicity of not even having a filter on it. It’s flawless from sky to ocean. In my opinion, one of the best parts of creation is the sun that sets every night... no matter where I am, watching the sunset will never grow old. Here’s a thought you already know: The sun can be at a different point in the sky, a specific time of day and can make its appearance completely different. I love it at its highest point and it’s lowest low.

I got to thinking and thought that at the lowest point, it casts its most beautiful display. Although it’s leaving, dipping beneath the horizon, we’ll see it rise in a little while. It’s beauty is on display for all to see and is beyond the capacity of a camera to ever truly capture it, yet our eyes can see it. Crazy. I think a simple yet in depth perception of the sun showing its beauty at its lowest point is a little bit how God uses us to show his glory. It’s to Gods glory to see someone at their highest, shining bright in the noon sky. There’s beauty in the joy that God gives us. There’s also praise and glory to be given to see ones life flourish in a season of celebration. But I want to emphasize the glory God uses in our lowest of lows.

Inwardly, we feel as though we are crumbling. Things that happen and things we go through can take a toll on our hearts. But as I look at this picture, I can’t help but think how beautiful to the eyes the sun is at its lowest point. In our lowest moments, that’s where we grow the most. God uses difficulties for his glory. We either try to get through it on our own or we humble ourselves and say Lord I need you. In the lowest point of our day, or week, or month, whatever it may be, Gods beauty is at work in you. He’s molding you into the person he created you to be; completely dependent on him. And in those moments, Gods joy can be radiant in you just like this sunset. His joy, his peace, his love, his comfort. Everything. It’s an inexpressible peace that God can bring in troubled times if we seek it out. Where it makes no sense and you have peace, that’s the presence of God. It can sometimes be easier said than done and feeling the pain of things we go through is part of life and that's okay. I have good days and bad days, waves of trust and waves of doubt. But I know that with uncertainty comes leaning on God. I know that with not knowing, comes with trusting. I know that with discomfort, comes growth. And I know that above all else, he’s working for my cause so I can be at rest—without worry, without fear.

At life’s lowest moments, know that Gods glory could be beaming through you if you let his light shine in you. I also think how wonderful it would be to have someone look at your life in those hard moments and says “I can’t deny the peace and joy you have, where is this coming from?" Your joy in the midsts trials could be light to someone’s darkness. Your hurt could be hope for someone’s tomorrow. God wants to show you how even at your lowest, he’s still good. Because at the end of the day, when the sunsets, it rises soon after. Just like us, hurt may come, but so does healing.

Next time in the midst of your lowest low, ask God to make his glory appear and be on display like this sunset. That even through the pain, loss, or confusion of life just not adding up, may he reveal to you a purpose to your pain. And I can promise you that there is always purpose to your pain. Choose to trust his plan for you and you’ll shine like this. Not because of anything you did but because the Lords work is evident in your life. Let the Lord sustain you every single day because he can and he will. The way you walk in times of trial will show a lot about your walk with God. Seek him, read his word, surrender, and trust.

I pray that whatever you may be facing the fruit of your life will flourish because you trust the Lord wholeheartedly. For even in your lowest of lows, you let the glory of the Lord shine through you with jubilant joy. It takes practice, no one is perfect and there’s a time for everything. But let there be more rejoicing than weeping in this life for Jesus is your stronghold.

In our weakness Your glory appears.

x Lauren A

Isaiah 40:31

"BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES; THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY, THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT"