I have taken many pictures in my life. When I was in the military I bought a cool camera, a huge telephoto lens…I looked like National Geographic… but of all the pictures I have taken this is my favorite. It was an early August morning, 2014, in northern Israel looking east toward the Sea of Galilee, the place where Jesus pulled Peter out of the water. You remember Peter was walking on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus…well, this is where the picture was taken.

Here’s the absolute cool part. I went up onto the roof where we were staying around 4:30 a.m. Yep, it’s dark- thirty but I didn’t want to miss what might happen. This was a rare opportunity. Little did I know God would put on a special show.

I remember the sun began to tease its arrival as it peaked over the Golan Heights. It seemed to say, “Get ready. I’m coming. Wait for it! You don’t want to miss my art…it’s always One-Of-A-Kind!”  I often refer to God’s spectacular sunrises & sunsets as God Art. Only God can paint the sky. Only God can take your breath away with His Creation and display of His power. Only God.

That morning most of our group slept in. Growing up on the farm, I experienced many, all too brief, spectacular displays of God’s hand early in the morning. During that era, when I was a prodigal, even I recognized it was God’s hand. God was planting His seed. That morning in Israel I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

One of the conditions God uses to develop His Followers is “Waiting.” We can either wait with fear or faith. It’s a choice. Fear is not of God. Fear takes doubt…to anxiety…to panic…away from God. Faith draws us closer to Him. We know from Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is trusting in the Promises of God. The No-Matter-What faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As a Follower of Christ, we can confidently claim the promise found in Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We can wait with confidence. He is the Promise Keeper. “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:6

I believe God has been whispering to the world, “See the sunrise…I’ve been doing this since time began. If you can trust the sunrise, you can trust the Son…because He rose. Wait for Him…He is coming soon!”

How are you waiting?