It Won't Be This Way Long

We are told in Scripture that the way God thinks seems like foolishness to those who do not have God's Spirit to help them see things from His perspective (1 Corinthians 2:14). Even to those of us who follow the Holy Spirit's direction and do believe in Jesus, God's ways can seem extremely difficult to understand, until we take the time to ask Him questions, walk out circumstances, and learn to see things from a higher perspective.

Scripture is full of people whose lives did not always seem to align with the dream God had given them. Abraham and Sarah aged out of their fertile years, in opposition to the promise of an heir. Joseph languished in a prison, in opposition to his dream of ruling. Elijah was running for his life, hiding in caves to avoid Jezebel, in opposition to God's promise to eliminate the threat.

In my life, this looked like a pile of promises I'd been given about the music God had entrusted to my wife and me, only to wake up in an ICU paralyzed, unable to speak, with the realization I was losing my home for the 2nd time in our marriage. Homeless, penniless, jobless, armless, legless, and voiceless. "So much for your music now!" the devil probably hissed. Life looked about as far away from music production as my worst nightmares could have imagined as the insane circumstances, losses, and alone-ness escalated. There is zero possibility you are listening to these songs today, yet here they are. God always has a way to accomplish his purpose, no matter what it looks like for us.

When all your "friends" have walked away and no one cares if you live or die, Jesus still does. When all the funds are gone and your living situation looks hopeless, Jesus still knows where you are.  When no one else in the world values what you bring to the table and won't lift a finger to help, remember Jesus values it and has a plan. When you feel like every dream He ever gave you has been rejected, discarded, and ground into dust, Jesus still remembers, and He can still do the impossible. Your job is to just continue to show up and believe that God's character is exactly what He says it is. Remain faithful. He does not change with our circumstances. He does not break His promises.

Second Corinthians 4:17 calls these things "momentary, light afflictions." They do not seem momentary or light, but in the scope of eternity, they very much are. Trials end. As the quote goes, "the days are long, but the years are short." It will pass. Scripture says Jesus endured the cross, because He knew there was joy ahead ... after the worst. We are supposed to be keeping our eyes on the fact God promises us great reward for all that is suffered in this life in obedience to His call on our lives.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

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