A couple of weeks ago, there was an amazing sunrise that caught my attention and the same was true for many others, too (for my East Tennessee friends, anyways).

It was so stunning that sunrise photos were the highlight of the day on social media. While I wasn’t able to snap a picture, I did get to see that special sunrise from a different perspective (from my rearview mirror) which has brought a new perspective to my heart.

I was driving early that the morning and it looked like an ordinary day. It was cloudy and dark ahead of me but I was captivated by the sight as I glanced in the mirror to see the bright orange and pink sky from the sunrise. It was such a difference from the gray ahead of me compared to the brightness behind me.

Whether the beauty is ahead of me or behind me, I trust the Father is in the midst of my journey. I trust Him in the dark and I trust Him in the light.

While it may not always look beautiful ahead, the Father is working and making something beautiful along the way. And along the way, we can be captivated by the beauty behind us as we glance back and see His goodness.

Some of you probably saw that sunrise ahead of you that morning. Some of us had the view of the east while others the west, some the north, others, the south. We are all on different journeys and that’s what is so beautiful about life. Just as our Creator paints the sky differently each day, He paints our journeys in a unique way. His hand is at work and it’s a work of beauty.

His splendor was like the sunrise; the rays flashed from His hand, where His power was hidden.

Habakkuk 3:4

The glorious view behind me reminded me that sometimes it is good to look back and see the Father’s goodness along our journeys. While the past may have been cloudy and gray at times, He has unfolded so much goodness and grace along the way.

We aren’t meant to stay in the past, but I truly believe there are those moments when we need to glance back to see how far we have come. It’s good to glance back and be reminded of how He has taken our brokenness and created something beautiful.

It’s okay to look back. I look back to remind myself of how far I have come. I am not who I was. I am not even who I was that first night saying yes to Jesus. I am not who I was a year ago. As I glance back, I see His goodness. I see His grace. I see His love. And not only do I see His love, today, I am truly embracing His love.

Friend, when you glance back, I hope you see the beauty. I hope you see the bright colors of His love that is shaping your journey. And I hope that even on the days that may be a little gray and dark, that you still see His goodness and grace abounding in your life.

Embrace Him. Embrace the sunrises. Embrace the cloudy days. Because no matter what, the Father’s love is constantly with you. His light is with you. His grace is with you.

While we can’t stay in the past, we can be reminded of His beautiful works today as we take a glance back.