Seventh-day Adventist® Church

On the morning of Monday, April 12, 2021, after two full days of Barbados experiencing the dust and ash fall from the eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent, I looked through my window and saw a most beautiful sight. There among the very grey-looking leaves and sage flowers in the hedge were four pretty, clean yellow flowers. From my vantage point there didn't appear to be one speck of dust on those flowers. Immediately, I thought about what God was trying to tell me and I thanked Him for showing me those lovely flowers.

God reminded me that there is hope. He showed me that when all seems to be going wrong – COVID which all the restrictions associated with it and now having to deal with the dust and ash, that there are still good gifts that He wants to give us. James 1:17 says that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Although He allows us to experience difficult situations, He also send the good.

God reminded me He is with me, and that 1) although the situation was difficult and beyond my control, 2) I couldn't go outside without exposing myself to danger, and 3) I had to keep all the windows and doors closed to keep out the dust to minimize the possibility of breathing them in, that He was there, large and in charge, and He hadn't forgotten about me, just as He promised in the latter part of Hebrews 13:5, when He said "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

God reminded me I can be like the flowers. This world is a dark, gloomy and sinful place, but like those flowers blooming out of the grey-looking hedge, I can stand out and shine for Jesus. I can be in this world but not be tainted or contaminated by the filth and evil around me. Romans 12:2 came to mind which says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Also, Philippians 2:15 - "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;".

God reminded me that there is always something to be thankful for. One of the practical precepts Paul wrote about in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." So I am thankful that even though the windows and doors are all closed, I can still see the pretty flowers outside, the temperature inside the house is cool and I am alive to give God praise.

God reminded me to focus on the good around me and what He can do for me instead of on the problems. Dwelling on all that is negative will solve nothing but meditating on God's Word that is filled with His promises can give me peace, as Isaiah 26:3 affirms; "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

God reminded me that one day He will make all things new. As I thought of those flowers blooming after the continuous falling of the ash and dust, the account of John in Revelation 21 came to mind, where he saw the new heaven and the new earth that God is preparing for His faithful children, after the eradication of sin for good. I also thought of 1 Corinthians 2:9 where Paul said, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. After all the results of sin that we would have endured, God will make all things beautiful, beyond anything I can imagine, forever.

I encourage you to spend time listening to God so you can hear what He is reminding you about each day.