The Strawberry Moon

Reflecting on God’s Abundance in June’s Glow

The Strawberry Moon: Reflecting on God’s Abundance in June’s Glow

The clouds have not been my friend this week, and finding the moonrise has been somewhat difficult to enjoy the glow of the Strawberry Moon this June. My heart feels heavy yet hopeful, like a field ripe with fruit at the close of a long week. The week has been a whirlwind of endless tasks, fleeting moments of worry, and the quiet ache of striving to align my steps with God’s purpose. But tonight, as the moon hangs low, full and radiant, take a moment to pause, it’s an invitation to rest and reflect. The Strawberry Moon, named not for its color but for the season of ripeness it heralds, speaks to me of God’s abundant provision and the sacred rhythm of work and rest.

The history of the Strawberry Moon stretches back to the wisdom of Native American tribes, particularly the Algonquin, who named it for the time when wild strawberries ripen under June’s warm sun. This full moon, often the last of spring or the first of summer, marks a season of harvest, a moment when the earth yields its sweetness. Unlike other full moons, the Strawberry Moon this year is unique; its low arc across the sky gives it a warm, amber hue, as if God Himself painted it with a brush of grace. Astronomically, it’s closer to the summer solstice, making it linger longer, as though urging us to slow down and savor the moment. To me, this moon feels like a personal whisper from the Creator: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, NIV).

This week has tested me; deadlines loomed, doubts crept in, and my soul felt stretched to the limit. Yet, as I reflect on past Strawberry Moon images I have captured, I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness. The Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Each week, like each moon cycle, brings its challenges, but also its closure. The weekend beckons as a Sabbath, a holy rest ordained by God. Just as the Strawberry Moon signals the earth’s abundance, this moment signals a time to trust in God’s provision and release my burdens.

I think of the strawberries ripening now, small bursts of sweetness born from soil and sunlight. (I had them for dinner this week on pancakes I made for my family.) They remind me of God’s promise in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” The Strawberry Moon, in its quiet splendor, mirrors this truth. It doesn’t strive to shine; it simply reflects the light it’s given. Am I not called to do the same? To rest in God’s care, to reflect His love, to trust that He provides not just for my needs but for my soul’s deepest longings?

Today, as the week closes and the weekend opens like a gift, I feel the weight lifting. The Strawberry Moon is my reminder that God’s abundance isn’t just in the harvest of the earth but in the renewal of my spirit. It’s in the rest He grants, the peace He offers, and the promise that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV). As I prepare for the Sabbath, I’m choosing to pause, to breathe, to let the glow of this moon remind me that God’s goodness is as constant as the heavens.

So, I invite you, too, to step outside these June evenings. Look up at the Strawberry Moon. Let its gentle light wash over you, a testament to God’s unending provision. Reflect on your week, its struggles, its victories, and lay them at His feet. The moon will rise again, and so will you, held in the abundant love of the One who made the stars.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Strawberry Moon, a reminder of Your provision and the rest You offer. Help us to trust in Your faithfulness, to find peace in Your presence, and to walk in the light of Your love. Amen.

Until next time, keep looking up.

-g