The Shadow Proves The Sunshine

I must live in a place in the world where it is sunny at least 80% of the time. That place would not be London, of course. It could possibly be Texas. The sun is one of the best things about being outside. I understand why the ancients worshiped the sun as a god. There is something heavenly about basking in its warmth, feeling the light upon your face shining from millions of light years away. In my last post I said I never feel closer to God than when I am in garden. I'd like to amend that, and add "being in the sunlight."
The lack of sunlight here in London is disheartening. God knew I needed the light, for when I awoke this Sunday morning, there was the brilliant ball of gas in the sky, beckoning me to come and enjoy. I got dressed, combed my hair, grabbed my Bible, journal, and the book "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" and headed into Bloomsbury Square. There are fewer trees, therefore more sunlight! On my way to The Onion, a cute little coffee shop that I frequent, a random man said hi. That normally doesn't bug me. Then he asked my name. Weird. I was pretty rude and told him I was going to get coffee and walked away while he was still talking to me. There was something really strange about the way he was asking and trying to get me to have a conversation at 9 am on a Sunday morning. I got coffee and a croissant, and purposely walked in a roundabout fashion to avoid this man. He never left the square the entire time I was there, though he didn't notice I was there again!
Anyway, back to the sunshine... Wow, I felt the presence of Jesus in that sunlight. In reading the book about Hudson Taylor (I'm about halfway done) I just couldn't stop crying and thinking, "God, forgive my unbelief and my lack of faith." Darth Vader may have coined the phrase "I find your lack of faith disturbing," but I feel like Jesus has every right to say this to almost every believer ever. Hudson Taylor lived a life of constant faith and prayer and belief that God would provide. And He did, every single time, usually at the last minute, when all our faith is gone and we begin to take matters into our own hands. Hudson Taylor never let matters leave the hands of our most capable Savior. Lord, forgive my unbelief. I have been worrying about virtually everything lately, thinking about how in the world everything will work out, from dealing with the financial aid office to moving out of my home when I return to Texas. But the life of this missionary to China reminds me: God provides if we ask, if we expect, and if we believe. Hudson Taylor felt it perfectly normal to expect God to provide temporal necessities as well as spiritually. Money, food, shelter, he left it all to God. God came through in the most beautiful ways imaginable.
A life given to prayer, to belief, to working for the good of the kingdom of heaven. This is what I am called to, and the rest will be provided.

The video above is by one of my favorite bands, Switchfoot. Worth watching, and it has to do with my post :) two great reasons to check out this amazing band!