Sun and Shadows

2011 has been a year of great change at the Bivins house.  Change is hard, no matter if you're ready for it or not, but I know that God has been at the forefront of all it, guiding, steering, and showing us the next steps to take.  The steps have been uncertain, wobbly, and often painful, but the joys, affirmation, and encouragement to move forward, equally as exhilarating.

This season has been a mixture of sun, clouds, and shadows.
There have been times in this journey that all I could see surrounding me were clouds.  You know those days when it's been raining, and the clouds just seem to linger and linger?  You know in your heart that the faithful sun (Son) is high above the clouds, but for this season, the clouds just have to cover?  Sometimes the clouds produce a cleansing rain, and one that readies the soil (soul) for new growth, fresh beauty, and new flowers.  Other times the clouds produce a storm with beating hail, torrential downpours, and damaging winds.  I have felt all of this from the clouds that have hovered in this season, but have constantly been reassured that the sun (Son) would eventually, in it's timing, part the clouds and reveal the glory and the splendor again.

(My sweet cardinal (Jesus) is chirping loudly outside as I type this...sweet affirmation)

As God settles us more and more into the calling that He has ordained, and the more my heart surrenders fully into the magnitude of what He has called, He has allowed the clouds to move on, to break apart, so that His bright light, that shows clearly the way, that warms the soul, that grows the seeds planted, can do what only it can do.

I am thanking God for the sun (Son)!  I know that for sustained growth, the clouds and the rain have to come again, but somehow know that the sun (Son) is above it all gives the strength and the stamina to walk forward in His confidence.