Holding on to Hope: The Best is Yet to Come

Reflection is progress, but rumination delays redemption.

"This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the

mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements

together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'" Isaiah 43:16-19 (NIV)

Christians are Humans, Too

"Uh-huh. Yes. I see."

My counselor was at the receiving end of the conversation as I blurted out my longing

for things to return to normal, the way they were mere months ago. I was in the middle of a challenging season brought on by significant life changes and new family dynamics.

On top of it all, I felt guilty for feeling this way when I should have counted some of

these changes as blessings. After all, good Christian women aren't supposed to think

these things and cling to the past.

The counselor nodded and jotted down notes as my words continued to pour out in

rapid succession. Finally, the pause came—the time for the expert to give wise advice

that will make everything right again.

His glasses slid down his nose as he gazed into my eyes.

"It's good to know you're human like the rest of us."

That's it! Diagnosis equals human.

Apparently, it is expected, even for Christian women, to wish for a time when things

were easier and looked more like the plans we had for our lives. However, staying in

this mindset for too long is unhealthy and unproductive. We must do the hard work of

adjusting and moving forward as we grieve the passing of a good season while holding on to the hope that the best is yet to come.

Hope During the Tension in the Middle

In Isaiah 43, the Israelites navigated the middle tension between a known past and an

unknown future as they lived in exile in Babylon. They were homesick, and as their faith surely waned, God brought hope and comfort, reminding them of the miraculous

deliverance of their ancestors through the parting of the Red Sea.

As quickly as God reminds Israel of this miracle, He tells them to forget it. He isn't telling them to erase good memories or suppress their past and current heartache. He lovingly instructs His children not to pitch a tent in the past but instead to be expectant of something new and better than anything they can imagine.

Reflection Not Rumination

Friend, I know there is hesitancy in believing that God will work your current situation for good when you have little emotional and mental energy to navigate the present.

Pressing forward may seem impossible at this stage. Change can be scary, and it is

natural to crave the predictability and comfort of the past.

But dwelling in the past only pauses the promise, and ruminating on our current state

and distress can create a vicious cycle of negativity and worry that keeps us stuck.

God gives us the gift of remembrance so that we can trace His fingerprints throughout all our days, giving us hope for our future redemption. He delivered us before, and He will undoubtedly do it again. This time, only better.

Let us use reflection only as a teacher, which aids our growth and keeps us moving

forward with our eyes steady on Jesus.

In His Word

Read Psalm 77 and take note of how Asaph's words turn from lament and anxiety to

recalling the tangible evidence of past miracles and reminding himself of who God is in verses 11-12: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your

miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty

deeds.” (NIV)

Using reflection as a teacher, write down a time when God's presence was palpable.

Keep this memory in your phone or on a sticky note, and read it when anxiety, grief, and doubt are great.

Life Application

Women tend to grieve and process overwhelming emotions best by sharing their

thoughts with someone they trust. I encourage you to talk with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor. Remember that God always wants to hear from you, so share your thoughts in prayer as well.