Dawn's Hope

Welcome back to Unvisited Lands! Today's post is about dawn, a word rich with meaning and used a lot in Scripture. It's a word that God has used in my life over the past few months to remind me of His love and hope. The Christian folk band Gray Havens mentions this word in almost all of their songs (see especially Not Home Yet and Tread the Dawn); the imagery is a powerful reminder that while darkness is a reality, dawn has even stronger claim to the present and future. It lies beneath our suffering and doubts, strong and sure and beautiful. In the middle of our exhaustion, sadness, or weariness, Jesus reminds us that while darkness may exist, dawn will inevitably and infinitely triumph. The hope of the sun's rays will never be vanquished.

In the Bible, Jesus Himself is described as the light that provides hope. Quoting from Isaiah, Matthew writes,

"the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." --Matthew 4:16

Jesus declares in John 8:12-13, "I am the light of the world," and Peter says that in Jesus we have a "living hope" (1 Peter 1:3). God's light, power, and love cannot be conquered by the grief or sin or deep sorrow we may be carrying. It will endure and is as certain as the rising sun.

This kind of hope, this joy, is too good to keep to ourselves! Jesus also calls His followers the light of the world, and we get to show others the dawn that has broken in and saved our lives. As children of our Heavenly Father, we get to share this message, and we get to rest in it.

No matter what you might be facing now, I hope that the promises of God are a comfort. Not only do we have a Savior who invites us to find rest in Him as our shelter in the present, but we are guaranteed that the future is filled with the bright light and hope of His love.

DAWN'S HOPE

My eyes are filled with stinging tears At the return of haunting fears, which Have long since followed me for years That all that's bad shall never change: Of loss, futility, strife, and pain My deepest sorrows, guilt, regret Shall still resurface to seize me yet And though I try to stir my will Darkness comes to freeze me still

If that were all of my melody I'd have no cause to weep, to plea To raise my eyes from night's thick dust And breathing dawn, wait and trust Although blocked by banks of fog and steam Beyond and near are stronger beams Who burns right through in golden gleams

And turns my nightmares into dreams

"Dreams" they're called, yet so rich and real More enduring than the grief I feel Like solid rock beneath my feet His loving grace is keeping me And holds me ever tenderly

For the rising rays have broken The light of dawn has powerf'ly come My eyes with tears may be heavy But through the mist I see the Sun

All this shall be for my good If yet right now it's not understood To this I hold and this I cling That through lament, I still can sing

Now and forever I have peace with God Freedom from sin and shame By the Spirit, my heart is brimmed with love The hope of daybreak is not in vain

Let me rejoice, though tears may fall Your arms will hold me tight From mourning to morning You're my joy

The rising sun, and life's true Light