Promise

BETHANY TIPPIN

It was golden hour and the breeze began to blow. Reprieve after a scorching day. I headed to the porch and my swinging chair. Pent up emotions threatened to spill as I turned my gaze to the southwest and I was gifted this incredible sight. 

Storm front meets the brilliance of blue sky. Poised perfectly between the two: God’s promise.

I felt my heart surge, “Remember… what does the rainbow represent?” 

Covenant. Promise. God will never again wipe the slate clean of humanity in the face of depravity and failure; he’s made another way. God offers transformation and hope and beauty at every impossible intersection.

That day, I stood in the light. I felt and saw the brilliance of love, happiness, contentment, joy, and peace. I also saw and felt the hard edge of cold, wet storm, the danger of thrashing winds and deep discontent. It threatened me, had been threatening for a long time. I knew I had to face this storm, stop ignoring it, stop holding tight to short-vision. 

Courage moved me past avoidance and into action. I chose to believe God’s promise, his covenant with mankind, his covenant with me. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22)

And holding tight to the promise made all the difference.

May you face life’s challenges, ups and downs, storms and sunny days with the grace and peace of knowing God promises to stand watch over the intersections. Hard edges and bracing transitions don’t have to be feared. God’s Presence, and brilliant light, show up in-between. May your eyes be opened to see.