God’s Love in the Sunset

When I was a junior in college, my laptop broke—and when I say “broke,” I mean it broke. No one could fix it. And when I finally realized that no one could fix it, I freaked. I had assignments due and reports to write and a computer was necessary.

I ended up spending that afternoon in the university library, using one of the library computers. I’m a Mac person and the only computers available were Windows; I didn’t know how to use the computer and it was extremely frustrating. On top of that, I’ll admit I’m kind of a germaphobe—all I could think of was how many unwashed hands had probably touched the very same keyboard and mouse I was now using. Gross. By the end of four hours of that, I was about ready to cry.

As I left the library, I offered up a silent prayer: help me to know that things will be all right. I turned and walked out of the west exit of the library, and was immediately astonished by the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen.

This is for you, I heard in my mind, a message from the Holy Ghost. And then I really did cry, because I knew that God was aware of my situation, and my desperation, and that He loved me. I felt His love so strongly, and I knew in that moment that the sunset really was just for me. It was for everyone else in the world, too, you know, but in that moment, it felt like God has just sent me my own personal love letter. I knew that I was on His mind.

I think of that experience often now—every time I immerse myself in the beauties of nature, or every time I see a particularly spectacular sunset. Sometimes I see one of those beautiful sunsets and I wonder whom it’s for—whom Heavenly Father is trying to communicate with through the wonders of the natural world.

I know that God loves us each personally, and that He is deeply aware of all of our trials and concerns. A broken laptop is not such a big deal, when you compare it to things like war and devastating poverty. But it was a big deal to me that day, and God knew it and He understood and sent me a message of His love.

God loves you, too.

Romans 8:37-39: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How have you felt God’s love in your life lately?