Finding the Sunshine

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

I have a cat, Nala, who God has blessed me with for almost 11 years now. Nala sleeps pretty much all day. Occasionally she will get up, roll around with her toys, or look for some treats, but most times she is happy to just be napping on her blanket. In the mornings, however, Nala is awake and alert. Yes, she is hungry and wants her food, but there is another thing that peaks her interest in the morning - the bright morning sun streaming through the window. If there is one thing that Nala loves most, its sunbathing.

In the mornings, the light from the sunrise shines brightly through the kitchen window. This is the one time of the day when there is direct sunlight coming into my apartment. Nala has come to understand this, and in the mornings, she wakes up and finds the sun. She moves with the sun, continuing to lie in its warmth until the sun moves over the roof and no longer directly shines into the apartment.

I have noticed something though - even on cloudy days, Nala still gets up looking for the sunlight in the mornings. She is consistent in her pursuit of finding sunlight to enjoy. Even if a week goes by with cloudy weather and no sunshine, that doesn't deter her. She comes back every morning looking for the sun, knowing that, eventually, there will be a morning filled with sunshine one day soon.

Watching her do this every morning has been a reminder for me. There may be days, weeks, months, maybe even seasons in our lives where the sun isn't shining. There may be difficult circumstances happening beyond our control, and it can feel defeating. When we find ourselves in a situation like this, it is important to remember that one day, the sun will shine again.

Just as how Nala searches for the sun every morning, with strength and faith, we can continue to seek God and search for the sunlight and joy each morning. And on mornings when you don't find the sunshine, just remember that the cloudy days don't last forever - the sun will shine once again.

Journal Prompt - Think about a hard time in your life. Did you struggle to find peace and joy in those moments? How can you actively seek out God next time you find yourself going through times of cloudy days?

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Prayers & Love Always

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Nala seeking out the sunshine each morning :)