Rachel Whisman

I am a sucker for them. They captivate my attention and enamor my heart. Sunrises and sunsets make me pause from the different hues that streak across the sky to the settling warmth that beams from their source. I could admire them all day long. 

And every morning, I have the privilege to watch the sun rise as I drive to work. As I merge onto the highway, the sun slowly rises as it crests over the horizon. It adorns the sky with various pigments and tones. While gazing at its beauty, some mornings don’t reflect what I see before me. I might be less patient as I am rushing to work because my timing was off. My body might still be weary from the previous day or disgruntled from a circumstance. It is this common grace of gazing at the sunrise that can replace the annoyance and lead us to engage our hearts with scripture to meditate on His promises. 

Like a rainbow in the sky to remind us of God’s promises, so too are sunrises. A signal to renew our hearts with the truth that, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Since His faithfulness caused the sun to rise, with the same power, so too shall His new mercies appear to us. 

When our strength is spent, and we see the sheer brilliance of the sun knowing it submits to God, it can lead us to humility and awe. Reminding ourselves that I am not made to do this on my own. He is the strength that supplies what I need as He says, “My grace is sufficient for you” and “not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (2 Cor. 12:9, Matt. 6:34). Just as the mornings are fresh and anew so does His grace meet, sustain, and provide for what you need today and not tomorrow. 

Even as the day draws to a close and the sun dips below our sight, our minds can remember that His presence does not leave us as sunsets do. He never wavers but is with us wherever we go (Heb. 13:5). As the sky deepens into darkness and the day is gone, it prompts me to recall what God has spoken, “I will remember their sins no more.” (Heb. 8:12).

The Lord is the maker of these artworks that appear everyday to us. A simple beauty we can use to turn our affections to the Lord and praise him for who he is and his handiwork.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
-Psalm 113:4-7