“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

Contrasted with the previous verse, we who believe have a spring in our step, so to speak, causing us to “skip” through life. For the unbeliever, the Scripture is stark:

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Mal 4:1)

Whereas those without faith have no good prospect, believers have everything to look forward to. The imagery is that of a new morning portraying a healing from yesterday’s pain. We are reminded of another passage:

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Ps 30:5)

There is much in this world to get us down: personal illness and pain, relationship struggles, financial stress, internal conflicts, painful memories, personal or sexual abuse, and the list goes on. We could include those difficulties that result from our personal failings. Possibly the greatest character pain is found in the proverb, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Pr 16:18). All these weigh down the soul; no amount of worldly soothing or anesthetics of alcohol or drugs can dull the soul pain that all these things bring. Apart from God, these things all continue every day with no relief.

But for those “who fear My name,” who trust in God, they “will rise with healing” because God is their “sun of righteousness.” Morning will bring joy, not just another day. The skeptical Christian, tired of the so-called “clichés,” sometimes times throws out God’s promises onto the trash heap of “well-intentioned, but misguided” advice. “Give up, and curse God, for He obviously has it in for you,” suggested Job’s wife (Job 2:9). His judgment is severe.

But for those who “fear” the Lord, who live according to God’s righteousness, the Lord infuses life in their steps. Despite the most miserable gloom around them, their reason to get up in the morning is to bask in the Sun, the God who will not condemn them.

Lord, I throw back the curtains of unbelief and rest in Your warm acceptance.