Continuing Forward with Hope for the Future

A wise person once told me that it’s much easier to share about the trials and struggles of our past, rather than what we’re currently going through.

Perhaps it’s because we know how our past stories end–often in goodness, redemption, or peaceful surrender. Even if those stories end in tragedy, the ending is sealed in our mind.

One of the many reasons why it’s difficult to publicly (whether that be with one other person or an entire group) process our current struggles is because we aren’t quite sure what will happen next.

It reveals our lack of control over our own story.

True confessions time. Over the last few months, it’s been difficult for me to blog regularly for two reasons:

1. I’ve been writing so much more for my novel writing program (the Author Conservatory, which I shared about in a previous post). This has been a life-changing, transformative experience. Such a blessing in my life!
2. And the less flattering reason…I’m in the middle of several unfinished chapters in my own life story.

Sometimes I wish I were a character in a book with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A simple growth journey where I find myself whole and healed by the final page.

But God’s more creative than even the best human author. He’s also more patient too, carrying us through every chapter and scene in our life story.

(I have yet to read a book that spans the entire life of a single person, detailing every miniscule moment for pages on end. Probably because none of us would have the patience to read it!)

And yet God chooses to do life with us, every second of every day.

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 121:3-4 (NIV)

This verse has been coming up in my life a lot recently. It’s such a comfort to know that God is watching over us without so much as blinking an eye. No detail goes unnoticed by Him, even the moments that we sometimes wish we could hide from Him.

But God views us, even in our fragile and broken human condition, as His precious children. He wants the best for us, and sometimes that means allowing us to trek further down an unknown path because the end result will lead to further growth and trust in Him.

All our paths are known to Him, even when the sky ahead seems foggy to us.

Perhaps this chapter of your life feels endless. Maybe you’ve been waiting on an answer or the fulfillment of a promise for years.

God welcomes our questions and wonderings, even our complaints. As we call out to Him, may we also remember all that He has done before, proving His faithfulness.

You see, friend, there is beauty and healing in sharing about the past and the present.

For when we remember the past, we also remember God’s unchanging character, and find hope in our present circumstances.

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV)

The Old Testament is filled with reminders to God’s people of all the ways He had already blessed and provided for them. During their forty years in the wilderness, they grew weary and doubted God would fulfill His promises to them. But God remained faithful, even when His people didn’t.

Our God is the same–yesterday, today, and forever. He showed up then, and He will continue to show up for us now.

Let’s continue forward with Him today.

Reflection Questions:

1. What in your life feels like an unfinished chapter?
2. How have you been responding to waiting in this season?
3. How has God provided for you in the past?
4. Go back to a Bible passage that has brought you comfort or hope in the past. What do you remember about God’s character through this passage?
5. Is there a safe person in your life who you should share your present struggles with?

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5 (NIV)