My daughter and I have had a sweet tradition of walking on the beach on the last morning of each of our trips together to the coast…getting up before dawn to watch the sun rise.

We dip our toes in the edge of the surf, watch shore birds skitter along the sand, and take our last cleansing breaths of saltwater breezes before saying goodbye to summer. 

Photographers call this the “golden hour,” when the sun’s rays stretch out from the horizon. If the weather is perfect, the sun’s location (at sunrise or sunset) bathes the earth in a warm, shimmering glow…giving us a brief glimpse of God’s majesty in His beautiful creation. 

But we can’t fabricate these moments. Clouds and rain have prevented us several times from experiencing this magical light. We sometimes walk anyway, hoping for a blockbuster sunrise. 

The wait for Pentecost put the disciples of Jesus in a similar position of expectant hope. After His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus walked again upon the earth for forty days, startling His friends with His appearances. Then, just before His ascension, He gave them a special promise—that He would send His Holy Spirit to baptize them in His power. 

The promise came with a command, however. His disciples were instructed to stay in Jerusalem. Still in a state of shock, they asked what would happen next. But Jesus declared that it was not for them to know “the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬). Basically, Jesus put them in a position where they could do nothing but trust and obey. 

On the day of Pentecost, 10 days after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit came to His disciples with blast of wind and fire—giving them the ability to witness about Jesus to visitors in their own languages. 

Like the morning walks along the beach when we’ve viewed a perfect sunrise, God orchestrated a “golden hour” that day for the disciples. My daughter and I had to obey by rising early and hitting the beach, while Jesus’ followers had to stay put and trust His plans. God sent His Spirit at the perfect moment when they were all together and when the visitors were in town, at just the right time and place. This miracle launched the church and set the course for the spread of the Gospel through the centuries ahead. 

Have you experienced golden hours in your life? When God shows up in a miraculous way? 

Friend, watch for these moments. They are rare and precious. Trust God to provide, and obey His calling even when you don’t understand or have all the answers. 

I pray right now for God to give you a beautiful, priceless view of His glory as you serve Him this week. May He bless you with His power in an unmistakable way!

Lord God, thank You for the golden hour moments in my life. Please help me obey and trust You even when I can’t comprehend Your plans. Remind me that You are my Jehovah Jirah Provider, and send me the power and joy of Your Holy Spirit as I serve you. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2026 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #Jesus #goldenhour #sunrise #beachphoto #Pentecost