Hoping for Sun, Receiving a Cloud

I'm going to try my best to capture this past half hour. I promise you I will fail miserably, but I want you to get a picture of the moment I just spent with the Creator of my whole self and this whole universe.

I stayed up all night to get a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise. My heart jumped inside my chest at the thought of seeing a sunrise here in Pennsylvania for what would most likely be the last time I pursue such an endeavour.
To my disappointment, I peered through a dark window to find rain drops and clouds, hovering over what was supposed to be my perfect morning.
Thoughts raced in my mind such as "Well, time to go to bed, now. No use in staying up even later!"
Still, I grabbed my second cup of coffee and sat quietly, trying to decide if I'd dare still take a walk outside in the wet, cold air. After all, I'd be facing the elements that simply stole my glorious fantasy of an irreplaceable dawn, right? Right.
From what you're concluding because of my introduction, you're assuming correctly that I did go outside.

I purposed in my heart and mind (don't poke fun, I'm telling the honest truth here, even thought it sounds absurdly stupid!) to find contentment, satisfaction and joy in the sunrise even though I could not see it. There were goose bumps racing down my back and arms, but the circumstance did not prevent me from praising God for the beauty and simplicity of a rain cloud. I gave God the glory for each metaphor He laid upon my heart when it came to those rain clouds.
As I rounded the bend of the last leg of my short trip, I glanced at my cell phone to check the time. It was a little past when the sun was scheduled to rise (yes, I checked online!) but instead of going inside the warm house where I could sit and write to you about this wonderful experience, my Father prompted me to stay out just a little bit longer.

Boy, was I in for something incredible!!

I saw a pink lining over the horizon. I figured this was what God wanted to show me- that "yes, amidst the clouds, there will always be that glimmer of hope" but following through with His reputation, He exceeded my expectations once more...

I began to sing. I am not dramatising this in any shape or form, I am utterly truthful as I write to you: When the first note splintered through the silence of the dawn, it was like a light was turned on in the East. My eyes immediately shot over to the skyline where an orange beam of light was rising. Above the tree line was the sun rising, and right above that pink clear air were the gray clouds. In that small section of pure, soft pink sky, the sun was rising as I sang. I continued until the sun disappeared behind the gray clouds above it, where I won't see it for the rest of the day. Tears. Tears. More tears.

This morning, I have learned so many lessons and it was only 7 o'clock when it all happened. Too many to write, too many to explain. Plus, intimate details of each gift like this God gives me, I don't need to share. But something this magnificent should not be easily put on a shelf of memories only to be dusted off occasionally. I wrote this to you that you too may find hope in your morning.

Maybe today you woke up with a hope that seems too rainy to combat. You believe that nothing will make it better, no matter how hard you pray or try to remove it from your life. Like a thorn in your side, it's a sharp, painful burden. I want to remind you today that God does not place these situations you're facing to hurt you in any way. God is love. Love does not do that. But in those circumstances, we are told to give thanks. Not FOR the circumstance, but IN them. Just like He has me wait it out a little bit longer, I was faithful in staying to watch something miraculous. Don't settle for a pink skyline when you could watch the sun actually rise. Do you get that? Don't settle for second best of anything. God has something incredible for you and He is faithful, but you need to be faithful, too. Today, give thanks, not just because it's Thanksgiving, but because you are victorious, and the battle you are facing is already won. Clouds may block your view, but that doesn't mean the sun is not there, and spiritually, it doesn't mean that distractions blocking your view from God, make Him go away. He is always there. He is always with you. Don't believe the lies. He hasn't forgotten about you. Get ready for your special blessing.. Just be patient. Let Him do His work so that you may be complete, not lacking any good thing.

I love you all.. and thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with me. I will never forget it.

Love, Kylie