There are days when the prospect of what might be looms larger than what actually is.

Days when you wish you could hit the fast forward button on your life and jump ahead just enough to see what’s coming (or what’s not coming, as the case may be).

Maybe what you’re dreading isn’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of life, or perhaps it’s truly monumental. Maybe your reaction is kinda illogical, or perhaps it’s totally understandable, given your current circumstances.

Either way, you find yourself in the bathroom, head in your hands, asking God to lift the blues or give you a glimpse of—well, anything, really.

You know about the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field—that God feeds and clothes them, and yet provides for you so much more. In fact, you can probably quote from memory the grand conclusion of this section of scripture: “Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)

You know these things—you really do believe them—but the fear of the unknown still throws you off. You keep thinking about what C.S. Lewis once wrote, that “we are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

This resonates loudly even though, among the four people in your household, you are the one most likely to be voted an optimist. The one who always tries to get the others to look at the bright side, to find the silver lining, to look for the good in the bad.

Honestly, you’ve seen it go either way—when God’s best is really wonderful, and when His best (at least the way it affects you) is just plain hard. Chances are, what you are fretting about today is neither—a mere blip, most likely—but it still looms large in your mind.

And somehow, the enemy of your soul is aware of this and seems to be exploiting it a bit right now.

But then, almost out of nowhere, a thought pokes its way through the heavy fog in your head.

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.” (Lamentations 3:21)

Ah, there it is—straight from the pages of scripture—the breath of fresh air you’ve been longing for.

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.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:22-26)

Maybe waiting’s not your strong suit. (It’s certainly not mine.)

And yet, these familiar words are powerful. They’re healing, hope-filled.

They remind us both that God’s love protects us, that He is faithful and good, and that His salvation will come when the time is right.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.