Joy Came to Me This Morning

This morning as I was taking the back roads into Boulder, Colorado, with the gorgeous clear blue skies spread out over me, and the majestic mountains before me, my Lord scattered a few hot air balloons here and there to accent the skies and to get my attention. You see, I know they were for me. Tears of joy came and a peace filled my being knowing that He was still in control. There is absolutely nothing in this world or of this world that escapes His hands or His doing. My prayers had been answered; there was joy in the morning.


Probably about ten years ago, I took my young boys for an overnight mini vacation to Colorado Springs. Using the internet to book the hotel room with one of my first- ever credit cards, I found an inexpensive room that boasted a magnificent view. Upon arriving and much to my disappointment, I found the motel to be a bit undesirable even by my standards. The sidewalk outside our room was full of broken glass and our promised magnificent view was a shabby looking trailer park.

Do you ever get your expectations and dreams of what you expect to come so built up that you are completely crushed and disappointed when they are not realized or come to be as you had imagined? . Such was the case of this mini vacation. The boys pouted too much on the drive there, the motel’s pool was disgusting with water looking like a dirty fish tank and I didn’t get my magnificent view I was promised.

After packing up our belongings early Sunday morning to go back home, probably still pouting at my disappointments, I opened the door and was blown away at the glorious sight before me. Hot air balloons, hundreds and hundreds of hot air balloons taking off, slowly drifting by as they climbed higher and higher into the sky. A hot air balloon festival was that very day with the balloons taking off in the field within walking distance from our room. Calling for the boys to quickly come to the door and hearing their shouts of exclamation at the view filling the sky, my heart smiled and I thanked God for bringing me this joy in the morning. My promised magnificent view at last!

This week has been stressful. As the days, then the hours, then the minutes came closer to closing on our house yesterday and still no word from the bank, it was hard to keep my eyes looking up. I felt like my mind’s breaking point was near; I gave it to the Lord expecting Him to bring a last second phone call saying “The closing will proceed as scheduled!” The call didn’t come, and our tomorrow’s plan of moving was no more. Going to bed early to escape thinking and worrying, I wanted to put my troubles to sleep. Disappointment prevailed my being and my heart was heavy.

That was last night. Today as I write this, the tears are still trying to escape. Tears of joy that came in the morning as I think about how my God gave me the hot air balloons once again. Perhaps you could compare it to a shared smile between a father and his daughter, a reminder of the close connection of love. My view was once again incredible – not so much the beautiful sky, the marvelous mountains or the colorful balloons – but the view into God’s insight that He was still in control and that peace will come in the morning. I enjoyed that time resting in His comforting shelter this morning as He helped me bring back that joy I have so sorely missed this week.