In Five Years … Continue on With Hope
Hold onto hope in all that life throws at you by remembering the Lord’s faithfulness.
The past five years have brought a world of changes to our lives. Some good, some hard, but we’ve been able to face them all with hope by looking to the Lord.
During this time, my husband and I have seen our oldest two graduate from college and strike out on their own, our 21-year-old daughter, who has special needs, be voted Homecoming Queen, and she and her youngest brother graduate from high school. In two weeks, our youngest goes off to college.
Expect Changes
Change happens to us all. And while five years can sometimes seem like a long time, to this mama’s heart it went by in a blink. It makes me wonder what the next half-decade will bring. Will there be more sadness than happiness? Will we see our children more often or less? Will our health be better or worse? Will we build or sell, stay in the area or move to a different community?
I can’t answer those questions. I can’t know the future. But what I do know is the one I can trust no matter how those questions are answered. The Lord has proven trustworthy through our past changes, and He’ll be faithful through the next.
Walk into the Future With Hope
We won’t always like the circumstances some years usher in. But we can walk through even the most difficult ones with hope if we know the One who walks before us, guiding and strengthening us for all we face.
We can walk through even the most difficult circumstances with hope if we know the One who walks before us, guiding and strengthening us for all we face. Click To Tweet
The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 CSB
Your Turn
Reflections: What changes and difficult circumstances are you trusting God through?
Today is Five Minute Friday. Years ago, I regularly wrote FMF posts. This week I’m joining in once again with writers who will write 5 minutes on one word. Today’s word is “five.”
By His grace ≈ Julie
Find hope in your real-life struggles. We'll chase it together! I am a wife; mom of 4 (including a young adult daughter with special needs); miscarriage mom of 5; author & follower of Jesus Christ. I write, edit, speak and enjoy everything outdoors.
The last five years have been a roller coaster ride. My youngest graduated high school, my daughter got married, my husband and I bought a home, and I become a grandmother. These were all such wonderful things! Then as blessings came…so did trials. My dad having dementia and being put in the nursing home, my mom having to have surgery, my daughter’s marriage not being what I hoped it would be, and then deaths of friends and my father in law, health issues, and my husband having to have open heart surgery. I don’t know exactly what the future is going to look like, but I know who is in control. I’ve had to learn to start trusting God in ways that aren’t always comfortable. He is so faithful! I don’t understand all that’s taking place right now, but one day the puzzle pieces will come together and make a beautiful picture of God’s everlasting grace and mercy.
I’m just seeing this, Connie. I’m sorry for the pain you face in your trials, but how wonderful that you are learning to put your trust in the Lord in the difficult seasons! Prayers and blessings.
Julie: I enjoyed reading your thoughts about change and the changes in your lives. As a mother, I understand the mixed emotions we can have. This year, our church went through a transition period as our former pastor retired from our denomination. Then several of the parishioners chose to leave our church. The former pastor is serving at a non-denominational church in the south part of our county. Our new pastor is good and preaches the Bible. His wife is sweet. The church has had other glitches in the transition process. Please pray for us.
Church changes can definitely be difficult transitions, Cecelia. Sounds like you have a good pastor to draw you together as a congregation again and point you to the One who never changes: Jesus. Praying for your church.