a silver lining

a poem about seeing hope in the midst of pain

i see a silver lining
over there
i see a bright star shining
through my despair

oh, the nights are dark
and the clouds get thick
so i remind my heart
who my hope is in

i can reach the stars
if i only dream
the light seems so far
is it out of reach?

no, there’s a silver lining
it’s got to be true
there’s a bright star shining
for me from you

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About

Sometimes as I’m falling asleep at night, I like to look at the moon and stars through my bedroom window. I’m fascinated by the beauty of the lights shining in the darkness, knowing that everything that exists was fashioned and created by God.

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. - Psalm 148:3-5

I find the nighttime scenery with the contrast of light and dark to be a fitting parallel for how walking through life while processing grief feels, especially during the holiday season, which is a bittersweet time of year. Grief comes and goes in waves of varying intensity. There are days and nights where the pain feels so intense to the point where it’s difficult to feel anything else. It sometimes feels like a back and forth between varying levels and degrees of hopelessness and hopefulness. Like David describes in Psalm 42, I find my soul needing reminding that its hope rests in God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. - Psalm 42:5-6

The contrast of light and dark at nighttime also reminds me of how Scripture uses the imagery of light to depict God and the hope of his glory. For example, after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, the miraculous fulfillment of centuries-old prophecies of a coming messianic king, a bright star shone in the night sky that led directly to where he was.

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. - Matthew 2:9-11

Jesus referred to himself as the light of the world and John the Baptist described him as a light that the darkness cannot overcome.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. - John 9:5

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:4-5

I find it so beautiful that in the description the Apostle John gives of the city of the New Heavens and New Earth, there is no darkness or night present because the Lord is the city’s everlasting, all-sufficient source of light.

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. - Revelation 21:23-25

Here on earth, there is darkness and night. There are clouds that get in the way of joy and days where pain feels unbearable. I’m so comforted by the truth that in the midst of it, God’s presence and hope is shining through and that one day, all pain and sadness will cease in the face of the fully consummated reign and rule of King Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for being our bright source of hope and light in the moments of life that feel dark and full of pain. As we embark on a new year, help us to remember that no matter how dark the nights may become or how thick the clouds may get, there is always a silver lining to be found in looking to you. As noted in Colossians 3:15, help us to allow your peace to rule in our hearts and lives. Thank you that we can trust and know that your light shines forth in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it. Amen.

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