Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Tracing the Imprints

The dawn burst with its myriad of glorious colors, spreading liquid gold like frosting over the earth.  Dew drops glistened on the primrose. A bluebird swooped to the resting place of a lichen-draped limb on the old apple tree.  She serenaded the morning with a sweet song - perhaps a morning prayer of thanksgiving to her Creator. Beneath a fallen log a cricket chirped, greeting the new dawn with a jazzy little tune of joy.

Beauty, which only moments before, had been obscured by the darkness, was now visible in the morning light. It had been there all along. This hidden beauty declared the faithfulness of God.

And so it is with us.

The darkness in our lives - the struggles, despair, depression - can obscure the hidden treasures of Christ within us. The treasures are there, but we can't see them because the shroud of darkness seeks to hide the Light - it seeks to stifle our declaration of God's faithfulness.

Have you ever thought perhaps within our darkest moments are hidden the secrets of God - His mysteries stored up for His child? It's easy to understand the truths revealed in the Light: "I believe in the One True God, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, who died on the cruel cross for the redemption of mankind - for the restoration of my broken soul." These we readily accept and understand.

But the darkness holds truths as well.

Only those who experience the darkness face-to-face, while anticipating the coming Dawn, gain the knowledge of the hidden treasures of our faith. In the darkness we experience the loving comfort of our Lord. In the darkness we reach for the hand of our Heavenly Father and can trace the imprint of our name He has engraved there. Really? Yes, really.

Beloved, listen to His promise, "Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands..." ~ Isaiah 19:16

When we grope for the Lord in our darkness, His hand meets ours. He holds us securely and lifts us up into the myriad of glorious colors found in His Presence.

Ah...His Presence.
I feel safe in His Presence. Secure. Loved.

Exquisite beauty can be found in the darkness. His Name is Jesus.



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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Shawn McDonald as he sings, "Beautiful". If you've never heard Shawn sing, you're in for a treat. He has a raspy, soulful voice full of God's grace. This young man has been delivered from much and knows God's grace well.