“Arise and shine! Daylight in the swamp!” This was a favorite saying of my dad’s when he’d ring the gong to awake sleepy trail riders and campers over the years.
As far as research goes, what I can find is that this phrase originated with the Minnesotan loggers in the early days when they lived in logging camps. The Iron Range of Minnesota boasts of a lot of swampy, boggy areas so the majority of the logging was done during the winter months when the teams of horses (then advancing to modern day machinery) could pull logs on frozen terrain. “Daylight in the swamp” meant it was time to get up and get going!
As I pray throughout each week about what is on God’s heart for this column, I feel that He is guiding me to continue to build hope in your hearts — and not only to build hope but also to build a vision for coming out of this crisis. As I recount the true historical accounts in the Old and New Testament, I am greatly encouraged as I read through many situations that looked hopeless but were always turned around.
Of course, the most hopeless of all was when Jesus was crucified on the cross. The whole world went dark and the enemy mocked those who believed. It looked like all was lost. BUT. GOD! What was buried was resurrected!
What is buried in your life that has died? Dreams? Ideas? Love? Vision? “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 If you can dream it, you can do it! I’ve heard countless stories of new innovations coming out of this COVID-19 situation. Inventions, innovative ideas and strategies will come out of this season!
True accounts throughout the Bible such as Daniel in the lion’s den, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, the disciples on the stormy seas, Esther’s plight, Joseph being sold as a slave and becoming second in command over all of Egypt, the flight of the Israelites and the parting of the Red Sea, feeding all the Israelites (two million plus) for 40 years and not one of their shoes wore out, Gideon (who was shy and fearful) and his army of 300 taking out thousands of warriors in the Midianite army show God does not abandon or forsake us. He is everything we need and He has a great plan for our lives.
As we fill our minds with the truth of who God is, what He’s done and what He will do, we can confidently look forward with expectation of His provision, protection, promises, and preservation. We can look at Noah’s testimony of coming into a new normal and seeing God provide for him in unprecedented ways. Remember, it had never rained before the flood. Can you imagine the feeling of being the only family on the face of the earth to emerge from the worldwide crisis? Noah took God at His Word. He trusted Him. He obeyed Him. He walked it out by faith. That is exactly what we need to do right now!
Readers, it is time to arise and shine! “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall over the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1,2
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
