The Stars are Still There

by Stephanie Gaines

Verse for Thought:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

I’ve always been one to enjoy a simple night under the stars. The beauty of a vast universe created by an awesome God never ceases to amaze me. Whenever I have a stressful day, there’s nothing more calming than looking up at the stars. I remember a particularly long day when I went outside to de-stress, but the sky was cloudy and I couldn’t see any of the stars. In my mind, my horrible day ended on a depressing note! I was telling a close friend about this and he said to me “Even though you can’t see the stars they’re still there.” This statement rings true in our walk with God. There have been plenty of times that I’ve failed to see God, but he was still there.

There are days and even weeks when I feel God is nowhere in sight. Recently I’ve been trying to transition into the “real world.” It’s really not that much fun at all. Especially since trying to maintain a relationship with God at the same time can be stressful and confusing. I may not have to deal with “grown up” issues like mortgage, light bills, full time careers, or kids driving me crazy; but the stress of trying to figure out the next step in life while barely, and I do mean barely, managing to pay the rent every month has made me lose sight of where God is in all of the mix. Time and time again I want to just give up because I don’t see the point of it all.

My stress level seems to cloud my vision. I don’t tend to see how God will bring me out of all this mess, and when he does I feel that the only lesson I’ll learn is financial struggles aren’t fun. Still, in the back of my mind I have to keep reminding myself that there will be better days and more blessings to come.  And no matter how cloudy my starry night is, the stars and God are still there.

Let's Pray:
Dear God, I pray that you continue to give me strength through all the hard times in life. I know I may doubt you and continually question where you are and what your plan is for my life.   However, in the end I know you’re still there watching over my life. Help me to continue to trust in you even when my life doesn’t make sense. Wrap your loving arms around me and continue to show me your grace and mercy. Amen.

Take the Next Step:
Take some time to truly take in the glory of God. We get so wrapped up in the business and drama of life that we tend to forget that God is there. Find a quiet place where it’s just you and God without any distractions. Tell him your fears, stress, hopes, and dreams. Then let him speak to you. Sometimes we think God’s not there because we won’t take the time to listen.