“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14 NLT)
One year, I met some new refugees from Africa who had moved to Iowa during the middle of winter. They were unaccustomed to the cold temperatures, ice, and snow. I told them that it would get better in a few months as the seasons changed, but that didn’t seem to comfort them at all.
When our circumstances look awful, platitudes like: things will get better eventually, or time heals all wounds, or you’ll learn to cope--are not helpful. Scriptures about finding happiness in heaven are also not comforting in the midst of a crisis.
“Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)
During adversity, faith is a treasure. It is like finding a buried chest of gold when you are in dire straits. Even the solid faith of a sincere friend can be strengthening when your own faith is flagging. Waiting on the Lord is difficult, especially when we focus on our circumstances. Uncertainty and fear about the future add to the discouragement. Yet, we can be confident in the Lord’s goodness in this lifetime. Faith is not based on what we see or sense, but on the trustworthiness of God.
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