The Darkest Hour: The breaking of Dawn

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. Psalms 119: 147
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.Ecclesiastes 11:7

It is perceived that the darkest hour is before dawn, midnight or bringing it up close and personal, during your troubles. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sermon A Knock at Midnight states midnight is a confusing hour when man’s faith often waivers. He also mentioned that during the Montgomery bus boycotts, the darkest hour of their struggle became the first hour of victory. Just when it was certain they would go down in defeat dawn came with the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling over segregation, their faith prevailed. “Disappointment, sorrow, and despair are born at midnight but morning always follows”.

Pre-dawn or the early morning was time for David, the man after God’s own heart to sing, praise, seek guidance and discover "the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to God; though weeping may endure for a night Joy will come in the morning." David found solace, peace during this period of day. Taking a look at my life, it has been stated by past instructors, family members and friends I did some of my greatest work around midnight are too darn early for a person to be up who has to work. Because of my early rise I have been able to capture my thoughts, write, as well as witness some of God’s greatest masterpieces, His artistic eye for color composition and a time for me to praise!

Each morning God creates a work of art by starting with a fresh canvas; nothing unusual, a blue or grey board along with basic primary colors yet each morning's composition is totally different. One day he uses more red, orange and burnt sienna, while on other day’s pinks, blues, and even gray tones. "Sometimes he chooses a sunrise against a light blue canvas splattered with floating pink cotton candy clouds or a sunset blended with burnt orange and amber colors against the evening sky which give way to sparkling star diamonds of midnight blue heavens." God’s art and colors are vibrant!

I captured these breath taking sunrise images one morning while driving. Within seconds one could see the tapestry change; same colors, same sky just a different perspective of beauty to witness. These pictures are just subtle reminders of how amazing God is yet we often over look the beauty and splendor as well as God’s daily blessings and miracles in our lives.

To bring this closer to home, coffee drinkers would you attempt to brew a fresh pot of java from yesterday’s depleted grinds then why start your life/day with yesterday's problems? God starts each day with a fresh slate to paint, we to should begin our morning as a new dawning, a new beginning by casting aside the troubles of yesterday and start fresh. Allow God to whitewash your doubts, fears, sins, and troubles today that your "darkest hour of struggle can become the first hour of victory!"

Tigner J.