When the Sun Rises
KELLEY BROWN
Lee en español
“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” Malachi 4:2 (ESV)
Few moments are more startling than awakening from a peaceful night’s sleep, only to have the pain of reality suddenly flood your consciousness. Facing the day can feel monumental and impossible.
On mornings when the darkness of my bedroom seems safer than braving the world, the rising sun reminds me of God’s unwavering presence. Ever since God created the sun in Genesis 1:16, there has not been a single day it has failed to birth light and lift our world out of darkness.
Daybreak is dependable.
Even more so is its Creator.
We hear this truth echoed by Malachi, the final prophet whose words close the Old Testament. Malachi spoke to a weary people in ancient Israel who felt like “it is vain to serve God” (Malachi 3:14, ESV). Corruption among the priests, compromise among the people, and creeping cynicism had dulled their devotion and hope. But despite their disillusionment, God made a promise:
“For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2).
To those who revered and honored God, even when obedience felt unnoticed and reality seemed hopeless, He said: A sunrise is coming.
The fulfillment of the phrase “sun of righteousness” shines clearly in Jesus. After 400 years of prophetic silence following Malachi’s ministry, Christ entered the world like dawn breaking across a dark horizon. As God revealed to Zechariah in Luke 1:78, Jesus is “the sunrise [who] shall visit us from on high” (ESV). Jesus Himself also proclaimed He is the light of the world (John 8:12).
A sunrise does not argue with darkness. It simply overcomes it.
Malachi 4:2 says the “sun” of salvation has “healing in its wings.” The Hebrew word for “wings” here can also mean “end, edge, or uttermost part,” like beams of light stretching across the earth. This warmth and restoration shines far and wide, rays reaching everywhere and everyone with spiritual healing, relational healing, and soul-deep mending. The kind only the Righteous One can bring.
Then comes another surprising image: “leaping like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). Envision young animals running and kicking, almost startled by freedom. God says His deliverance catches us off guard like that. We often grow accustomed to dimly lit lives, bracing for more disappointment, settling into survival mode. But quietly, steadily … Jesus rises.
For Malachi’s audience, the sunrise was still to come in the person of Christ. For us, we know He has come, and we look forward to His return. Even as we wait, He is pushing back darkness, healing what we thought would remain broken.
His love is inexhaustible.
His grace is unexplainable.
His redemption is inevitable.
Lord, thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who rose to illuminate our darkness and who carries healing in His rays. Help us step into freedom with joy, trusting that Your light is stronger than any night. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Have you ever had the thought, I really thought I was past this? It’s frustrating to find yourself back in a place that feels all too familiar. But maybe this isn’t about starting over — it’s about finally seeing what’s been there all along. Don’t Let Go is a study designed to help you recognize those patterns and respond differently, right in the moment they show up. Not perfectly but intentionally. Because that’s where change begins. If you’re ready to stop going back to what you’re ready to be free from, you can get your Don’t Let Go study guide today from the Proverbs 31 Bookstore.
ENGAGE
To connect with Kelley, follow her on Instagram @kelleybbrown, or visit her website, kelleybrown.com.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield …” (ESV).
Psalm 27:1a, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (ESV).
Isaiah 60:19, “ … the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (ESV).
Where in your life have you settled into survival mode instead of hopeful readiness? What would it look like to wait for Christ’s sunrise with reverent expectation?
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2026 by Kelley Brown. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
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