In moments of darkness
We all have those days, those seasons of life we just wish would go on forever, you know, where the sun is shining the sky is open before us and feels like, feels like dreams could go on forever.
Photography by an amazing friend, Saxon van der Weegen. Follow him on instagram : https://www.instagram.com/saxonvanderweegen/
Then every day comes to an end doesn’t it? The light gets chased from the sky and the night comes in, darkness falls and we fall too. Fall into the doubt and shame. We lose hope, we lose faith. The midnight of the soul reminds us that we’re still in this world trembling in the wake of the fall, and yet when the night falls the stars come out.
Vincent Van Gogh, famous artist, born in March, 1853 and died in July, 1890. One of his final pieces of art was titled the Starry Night, released in July, 1889 and the story behind this is beautiful, he had just found God during a emotionally and physically straining time whilst being in prison, and he discovered the greatness of God’s love and protection and not knowing how to say what he had discovered, decided to paint the world a picture. He used his passion to show his heart.
In a letters describing this masterpiece he said “Hope can be found in the stars”. Looking at the artwork in relation to that quote, I felt as though the stars, the moon, the night sky were paint as these swirling divine lines from God saying I’ll always protect you.
My first ever blog, this is what I want to share with you something that our foundation of who we are should have and that is how you can stand strong and find hope in your darkest days and moments by changing your perspective.
My parents always tell me after I've told them about how upset I am or how depressed I'm feeling the same response over and over again: "you're a big girl now, you'll get over it". I go to my room after those one sided conversation and the darkness consumes me and as a young person, this is where we all fall. Having someone or something suppress our emotions, our dreams, ambitions, and worst of all our faith in ourselves.
Vincent Van Gosh is one of my biggest inspirations. he found his soul and put it on a canvas. He allowed the whole world to see him for who he truly is not caring about what was going to be said but recognising that his passions, influences, inspirations, ambitions, innovations weren't going to be shut down because of what others had to say. But just like us, Van Gogh had different perspectives coming from left and right. Some loving, other not so loving. Kind of like my parent's. But here's what I've learnt an what could help you stand stronger in your darkest moments. No one knows you're every thought. (In my case, being a christian I believe God knows my every thought.) I can look into Starry night and see the stars as a way of God's promise of protection, other can say otherwise. No one can make you see what they see in something. Our perspective during any moment in time, is what pushes that moment to be dark or light, it will either reflect your fear or you hope. You have the finally say.
You're thoughts, those around you by choice, and those you surround yourself with by choice, are factors to your perspective. You want to be strong? Surround yourself with strong minded people. When given the background of the dark night sky you can see the stars so clearly , but did you know, the stars are always there in the sky, they never disappear. I mean think about how sailors used to be guided by the stars, you know, fixed their gaze on the constellation and through the darkest night they just kept sailing. If you follow the stars to your destination, you'll find the sunshine again. From a Christian perspective; I can’t help but think how the stars are kinda like God’s promises to us. In the night of our shame we can hear Him in the sky echoing through the night, there’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In the night of our confusion and our pain we don’t even have words to muster, we can gaze upon that promise where He says, “the spirit intercedes for us” cause we don’t even know what to pray for. I know my life is gonna see some nights, but I’m thankful that the God who created both day and night remembered to make the stars. And maybe everyone can take something away from that. Change your perspective. Don't allow people or anything for that matter push you into darkness. And if darkness does consume you, find the light by following the stars in the darkness All my love