Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.
Luke 12:27-28
Sunflowers have come into vogue recently because of the crisis in Ukraine. I have always liked their sunny personality. Google’s definition: Sunflower meanings include happiness, optimism, honesty, longevity, peace, admiration, and devotion. The sunflower possibly surpasses all others in terms of its universal power to bring joy to people. With a round face and bright yellow petals resembling rays of sunshine, the sunflower has important cultural and spiritual significance to people around the world. No matter how small or how little light there is, sunflowers are believed to seek out the light and hold their heads high as if in worship and adoration of the sun.
Watching the reports on TV, seeing the fear on the faces of those fleeing for their lives, thinking about how hard it must be to just pick up and take only whatever you can carry, not knowing if you will ever return makes my heart hurt. I think the picture that had the greatest impact on me was the one of Christians kneeling and praying in the snow.
The bravery of the Ukrainian people is remarkable. God is not surprised at this chain of events. He knows the end from the beginning and we can trust that He will care for His children, much as he cares for the sunflowers who turn their face to Him as the sun shines down.
The battles we face may not include AK47’s, Molotov cocktails, tanks, and helmets, but we have the armor of God that protects us from anything that Satan can throw at us. We are not alone. Look to the light from the Son that makes all things beautiful and shines on our path giving us hope.