Better Days Ahead

There is something I tell myself when I’m sick or when I go through difficult situations; I say, “better days ahead!”  I am reminding myself this is only temporary and things will get better here on earth or in Heaven.

This week was difficult, my older brother was put on hospice care, I hurt my back and could barely move without restricting pain and there were some other troubling things that came up, but I live in hope and expectation.  My brother, even though I will miss him, will soon get to see the Lord and be done with his terrible long-term suffering. I will soon get over my back problem with the help of my wonderful chiropractor and massage therapist.  I know the other things will work out with prayer and love. Yes, there is sadness, confusion and pain, but there are good things coming. 

Where does my hope come from?

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

 Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

 Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

 I love these verses for they tell me I can have hope because my help comes from the Lord.  I have no idea how people who deny Christ get through the rough times.  When we have that relationship with the Lord, we walk through the pain as we lift our eyes and hearts to Him. Our strength, peace and hope come from our heavenly Father.  I know I can’t pull all those things out of my human shell.  Because of Him, I can be in pain and sorrow and still know there ARE better days ahead.  You know what?  It’s been proven to me over and over, every year of my life.  I have been through some super tough things and I have also come through them.  I have a track record with the Lord and it’s a good one!  He is faithful and I have learned to trust Him and say, “this too shall pass.”

Somethings we get through quickly and some things take some time but the bible says to be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer, why?  Because we MUST learn to lean on the Lord, communicate and trust Him.  While we are doing that, He is doing good things in our mind, body and spirit.  It’s like any athlete the more they practice and the more their muscles hurt because they are being trained, the better athlete they will become.  The more we go through things trusting the Lord, the easier it is to say, “better days ahead,” and truly know it to be true.  So, train on fellow travelers.  The best is yet to come either here or in Heaven if you know the Lord. 

I can just see it now, all of us singing in heaven someday, “Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life WAS but a dream!  In a God minute everything can change for the better!

Prayer

Lord, you know our joys and our sorrows before we even ask for your strength and help.  But you want us to acknowledge you.  You want us to trust you and love you not because we have to, but because we want to. Lord, help us get through yet another difficult experience and bring us into your realm of love and peace as we put our hope in you. Every day is better because of you Lord, thank you, in Jesus’ name, amen.

God Bless

Sally