That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
Romans 8:19-21 MSG
Why do we feel the need to compare things all the time? It is something that comes from our flesh. We have a desire to have and know what is better and worse.
This idea of better and worse is a state of being in the world that will keep us distracted every time. When we know a life with God there is no comparison to any other way of living. Comparison of present hard times to the coming good times is futile.
God is elevating our thinking with each passing moment we spend with Him. (Isaiah 55:8-9) We are constantly being transformed to His ways over our ways when we remain in prayer and dependence on Him. This is why we must find a steady rhythm of drawing from Him as we move through our days.
This is what joyful anticipation is. God is a loving Father who is patient beyond our comprehension. He is patient as we grow to trust in His ways over the world's way. Learning that our dependence on Him is what will help us through our present hard times and prepare us for the coming good times.
Considerations for your planner:
- Where is your focus today? Write it out. Then see if you can look up more than on what the world has you distracted by.
A Prayer for Our Community:
Father, We want to be elevated to Your way of thinking. Help us to move through our day looking and seeing things through your lens rather than our human one. We want to set our focus on the coming good times. Thank You for Your patience with us when we forget to turn to You and instead do things the way the world does them. Help us to live in more joyful anticipation rather than present despair. Amen.
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