One of my favorite things in the world is sunsets. Although they may only last minutes to me, they are a reminder of the beauty and magnificence of God. Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too. They are evidence that not everything that comes to an end has to be back and gloomy and dark and eerie. Sunsets are a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
We have all experienced times where everything that can possibly go wrong does. Things could start off with something as small as failing a test, then could continue to spiral to months of one bad thing after another and you look up to God and throw your hands up and say “God, okay this is enough, I can’t do this anymore, send help,” but ironically it seems none comes. You then think, maybe I didn't pray hard enough, so you try again, “God umm hello, I’m hurting this is too much, take it away,” and still you don't think God answered. So, after praying a few more times, you give up and slowly start to step away from God. BUT as soon as we try to take the first step on the rough water alone, what we thought was bad before is nothing compared to what we are experiencing now. Now things couldn't get worse, you're at your lowest point in your life, and the worst part is… you're all alone.
Maybe you haven’t been there, and I pray you haven’t, but many of us have. For those of you who have, I need you to know there is light at the end of the tunnel even though I know right now you cannot see it. Right now you are drowning in water and your head is barely above the waves and you don't know how you're going to hang on for one more second, but I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you're in the valley, and everyone you know is on there way up the mountain and your left in the dust, don't give up because it is in the valleys where the flowers and grass begin to grow, and its here where you will begin to see the light.
When I was dropped off a year ago at college, I was at one of the lowest points of my life, while everyone around me was half way up the “mountain.” After being alone for three days, this is what I wrote: “My room is quiet, I’m lonely, and with all the practice schedules everyone is exhausted at the end of the day and hanging out is at the bottom of anyone's 'To-do list.' The past three days I have called my parents, boyfriend, and countless family members innumerable times throughout the day to battle what seems to be a never-ending battle of loneliness.” I was in a valley screaming to God “HELP ME, I CANNOT FEEL YOU HERE. WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME NOW?" But then I realized God hadn't moved, I had.
On that Thursday I wrote this, “as my eyes began to dry and the knot in my stomach loosened a tad, I realized I really wasn't alone. God picked me up, brushed me off and said 'Okay, Brooke you can do it this time, but if not I am right behind you. I promise I won’t let you fall.' Starting in a new place is like learning to walk all over again. You have to crawl a little, but then you pull yourself up. You suddenly get bold and take a few steps that end in loss of balance, but then you walk while holding onto someone's hand for more support. Then you WALK.”
To all of you who are yelling and feel like no one is listening, maybe you've stepped away from God. He is yelling for you to come back, but maybe you are too far to hear. Even is that's the case, it's never too late to come Home. God is yelling for you his son, his daughter because he loves you. He has never walked away, He has been right there waiting for you to scream to Him.This is why sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too, but the end of the tunnel is not the “end,” it is only the beginning. The tunnel is the end of the pain and suffering that is in that dark, gloomy corridor. The end is beautiful because at the end God is waiting with open arms for us to find the sunset at the end of our tunnel. God is ready for you to come home and realize that you are not alone.
