Remember giving a flashlight to your children when they were young? They never failed to shine that bright beam right in our eyes. The sun gathered her silver rays this afternoon and shone her flashlight beam right in my eyes as I was walking Penelope. I looked up to see if Mother Nature was gathering her watercolor brushes and I was blinded by the sun’s silver flashlight, her beam of sunlight the beginning of a glorious watercolor painting of the setting sun.

Mother Nature dressed the sun in a golden honey gown and sent her down the horizon on the arm Father Sky, so handsome, his close cut beard outlining a firm jaw and a movie star smile. As the sunset couple stepped off the horizon, Mother Nature began a wildfire that followed the train of the sun’s formal gown, bursting into pink flames as the day’s light dimmed. Father Sky kissed the sun goodnight and hurried to wake Mr. Waning Gibbous Moon, finding him 97 percent dressed, holding a bouquet of twinkling stars in each hand. Father Sky flung the diamonds into the purple sky, adjusted the moon’s bow tie and the pageant of night began. I love watching the setting sun each day.

As I watch the late afternoon sky each day I’m reminded of my faith, believing in a loving God who is in control of the universe. I love the words to the song, I Believe. The lyrics encourage and remind us that God is always working in our favor. Even when we can’t see him or his glorious sunsets we know God is in control and we can trust his steadfast grace. We can surrender ourselves through our prayers, letting God give us freedom from the worry of our trials and tribulations. He gives us peace when we surrender to his strength.

Read the lyrics to I Believe and let the beauty of the words remind you of your faith, reminding you that you believe in a loving God. “I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows. I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows. I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way. I believe, I believe. I believe above a storm, the smallest prayer can surely be heard. I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word. Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky then I know why I believe. Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky then I know why I believe.”

Each sentence in these lyrics moves me and reminds me of experiencing God’s mercy when storms darkened my world, when my faith was tested. I’ve had God be a candle when I needed a light as I traveled and I know even my smallest prayers are always heard. I see the magnificent sunsets, the colorful fall leaves, the summer’s zinnias and red tomatoes in my little garden and I know and I believe I’m seeing God’s handiwork.

Having faith and believing in God means we live according to God’s words. Our life and our circumstances can change dramatically. We can be on a golden sidewalk of happiness one moment, then another moment we’re walking knee high in devastation and despair. Believe and God will provide hope and comfort and strength.

“Have faith in God: God has faith in you.” — Edwin Louis Cole