Bright Spots in Bleak Places

<p>When my husband and I were exploring a small, rugged corner of the state of Wyoming, I spied a sunflower in a rocky, dry place where sagebrush, nettles, prickly cactus, and other scraggly plants grew. It wasn&rsquo;t as tall as the domestic sunflower, but it was just as bright&mdash;and I felt cheered.</p> <p>This unexpected bright spot in rough terrain reminded me of how life, even for the Christian, can seem barren and cheerless. Troubles can seem insurmountable; and like the cries of the psalmist David, our prayers sometimes seem to go unheeded: &ldquo;Hear me, L<smallcaps>ord</smallcaps>, and answer me, for I am poor and needy&rdquo; (Psalm 86:1). Like him, we too long for joy (v. 4). </p> <p>But David goes on to declare that we serve a faithful, &ldquo;compassionate and gracious God&rdquo; who abounds in love for all who call on Him (vv. 5, 11, 15). He <em>does</em> answer (v. 7).</p> <p>Sometimes in bleak places, God sends a sunflower&mdash;an encouraging word or note from a friend; a comforting verse or Bible passage; a beautiful sunrise&mdash;that helps us to move forward with a lighter step, with hope. Even as we await the day we experience God&rsquo;s deliverance out of our difficulty, may we join the psalmist in proclaiming, &ldquo;You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God&rdquo;! (v. 10). </p>