In a recent podcast, Darren Hardy, the publisher of Success magazine, spoke about boarding a plane on a dark, cloudy, rainy morning. But as the plane gained altitude, it rose above the clouds to where “the sun was always shining.” His point, of course, was that when we find ourselves in the midst of dark and dreary life circumstances, we should rise above the circumstances and focus on the positive, on the place where the “sun is always shining.”

But as I listened to him, I heard the words “the SON is always shining.” You see, life has covered me with some dark and dreary clouds at times. And I’m sure, anyone reading this will agree that the circumstances of life can be overwhelming, making life “Undone” as Michele Cushatt shares in her recent memoir. But I’ve come to realize that above and beyond the clouds of life, the SON is always there for me.

In Matthew 28:20 Jesus gives us this promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (TLB) If my focus is on me and my problems, then life is dark, dreary, cloudy, and painful. But if I raise my focus above my circumstances, and concentrate instead on the warmth and presence of the SON, then I experience hope, joy, peace, love, comfort – all that Jesus has provided to see me through those circumstances. Usually the circumstances don’t change, but my perspective from above the clouds, surrounded by the light and presence of the SON, helps me see those circumstances as the instruments that God is using to shape me into the likeness of his SON to become the person He has intended for me to be.

Nobody likes the dark clouds of life circumstances; and I guess Eddie Rabbitt is probably the only person loves a rainy night, but we all can learn to appreciate the clouds, knowing the SON is always shining beyond them!

When have you risen above the clouds of life’s circumstances and discovered that the SON is always shining? Your experience can encourage someone else to see HOPE beyond their clouds, too.