“Because this is the morning after, if we can hold on through the night.
“We have a chance to find the sunshine, let’s keep on looking for the light. Oh, can’t you see the morning after? It’s waiting right outside the storm
Why don’t we cross the bridge together, and find a place that’s safe and warm?”
According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, Maureen McGovern, who penned these words, would listen to her father’s quartet rehearse in their home. She decided at age eight that she wanted to be a professional singer. Her influences include Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick.
Reread the lyrics. It appears that the challenges and struggles in her life inspired Ms. McGovern to write “The Morning After.” These challenges arose after her career declined, which resulted in a domino effect in her finances. This cast a dark shadow over her life, and Ms. McGovern could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But like others who are determined to succeed, she held on, believing that the morning after these struggles, the light would shine again. And for her, it did!
The morning after. After the storm. The rain. After the surgery. After the loss of a family member or friend. After the deception. The slander.  The restless nights. After the betrayal. After the sins you committed yesterday. After the struggles and the pain. Let me assure you that the morning after is just over the horizon.
Yesterday was Christmas Day. What if Jesus had really been born yesterday? Yesterday “she (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” And in obedience to the angel’s command, she called His Name Jesus. Yesterday, there was a host of heavenly angels singing praises to this newborn King. Yesterday, the shepherds were eye-witnesses to the Messiah’s birth. Yesterday, salvation was born.
The Old Testament Book of Malachi ends with the world sitting in darkness. “He that sat in darkness has seen a great light …” You may be sitting in darkness at this very moment. As a matter of fact the whole world seems to be sitting in darkness once more. But the Good News is that the New Testament opens with the Light of the world coming and dwelling among us. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
I promise you that if you will let the true light pierce your heart and shine on you, the darkness will have to flee. The Light of the world has come. Receive it and let the Light shine in your life. Then “go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, that Jesus Christ is born!”
And this is the morning after.

Lodenia Coleman is pastor of Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church, Americus.