09/20/2025
Look to the Son
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:5
I recently visited a sunflower farm. I was captivated by the beautiful blooms, the overwhelming scent, and the fascinating bees that swarmed the property. The sun was beginning to set in the west, so the flowers followed its path. Sunflowers are Heliotropic, which means that their faces follow the sun. They begin their day facing the east; awaiting the sun’s warmth. They end their day facing the west, soaking in the sun’s last bit of strength before the darkness of night falls. The sunflower stands tall, looking toward the Heavens. Sunflowers spend their entire day actively following the sun, staring at the sun, soaking in the sun to prepare for the times of darkness. As they do this, they grow taller, stronger, and more radiant.
I believe we could learn a simple yet profound lesson from the Sunflower. Just like the Sunflower, we also must actively, intentionally, and consistently face the SON. We must wait for Him every morning and lean on Him every night. We must follow Him to grow, to be filled with His light, and to reflect His glory. We must not waste our time staring at the beauty of the sunflowers around us, because they have no power to change us. We also cannot waste time staring at the pests that eat at us, because we cannot pluck them up. We must simply do what we were created to do: stay focused on Jesus.
As I reflected on the beautiful design of the sunflower, I could not help but think of a verse in Psalm 103:11-12 which says: “For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” We, like sunflowers, must look to the Heavens and trust our Father who gave his very own son, that “whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16. Through Jesus Christ alone, the Son of God, our sins are completely forgiven and totally forgotten. We can let go of the past, of our offenses and our sins, and bloom, grow, and radiate the glory of the gospel. We might have messy pasts, but God can plant beautiful seeds in dirty soil.
I encourage you today: LOOK TO THE SON. We will never be perfect, but we can be radiant. We can be a reflection of Christ’s perfection. We can trust God to remove our sin and shame, and use our lives to point others to the only one who is worthy of our eternal gaze and praise. Like the sunflower, we must remember every day where our power comes from, who changes us, and where to place our hope. In the words of Corrie Ten Boom: “If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest.”
India Goostree
