That You would rend the heavens and come down . . .
~Isaiah 64:1

God sent me a Valentine today. A perfect heart-shaped outline appearing in the clouds. As if in answer to the prayer of the prophet Isaiah, printed above, God had rent, or split, the heavens and come down to Earth through that universal symbol of love – a heart.

This extraordinary sight was captured in a snapshot taken by my cousin, Tim, a gifted photographer, who lives on the East Coast. Every morning at daybreak, Tim takes a picture of the sunrise over the beach and emails the image to me. Each photo provides a spectacular view of the first rays of light appearing in the sky. The scene is as welcome and full of promise as the new day dawning.

Though this morning’s photo showed calm and gentle waves softly washing the sandy shore, it also disclosed dark clouds overhead. Yet, directly in the center of those clouds, as if divinely placed, was a clear-cut opening in the unmistakable shape of a heart. And, through that heart-shaped opening, streamed dazzling sunshine. Incredible! My mind immediately recalled that famous line by English poet William Cowper: “God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.”*

Lately, I’ve been struggling with worries that have clouded my days and nights. Worries about my beloved father, who is soon to be 96 years old. My dad is a remarkable and wonderful man. Thoroughly good and kind. I’ve been blessed to have him with me all these many years. But I worry about him. “Am I doing all I should be doing for Dad?” “Is he getting all the vitamins and good foods he needs?” “Was that he calling me just now?” “How can I make this day special for him?” “What if this happens?” and “What should I do about that?” On and on, my list of concerns has plagued me. Feeling very much alone, I’d been praying for comfort.

In receiving the photo of this amazing cloud formation , it was as if God had answered me, saying, “I’ve heard your prayers; I know your worries. You are not alone. I am with you. I love your dad, and I love you.” With that assurance, came an instant ease of my heart and renewed sense of trust that, no matter what, God will take care of my father and me.

The skies in our lives cannot always be blue. In fact, they often are cloud-filled and turbulent, but Heaven’s handiwork of this morning reminds us that our loving Creator is ever with us. He continually reaches down to Earth to let us know, through all sorts of signs. Indeed signs of His omnipresence surround us. Not always in astonishing heart-shaped Valentine clouds, but in undeniable signs nonetheless. In everything that is good and true and beautiful:

The selfsame image in a boy and his dad, a fine heritage displaying;
The blinding brilliance of the rising sun, a new morning heralding;
The shimmering moon and twinkling stars, a night sky sparkling;
The first buds of early spring, that vibrant season promising;
The iridescence of a bubble of soap, a lowly wash day brightening;
The glowing eyes of a wise old owl, intently full-face gazing . . .

When we take the time actively to observe our world, we see signs of God’s mighty hand everywhere. The more we look, the more we see. And with that assurance, sunlight streams through the clouds and drives out the shadows of our worries and woes. God is with us. He loves us, and all is well.

Take heart, Dear Readers! Take heart.

God Works in Mysterious Ways ~William Cowper, English poet and hymn writer (1731-1800)