Is November getting you? It is incredibly gray and foggy over here today. So some uplifting and hope-filled thoughts seem to be appropriate today, don’t you think?

It always helps when we remember who is our hope. Our hope is not a sunny weather, no matter how nice that would be. Our hope is not money or a new job. Those things are just temporary things, here today – gone tomorrow. But our hope is Jesus. And that hope is eternal!

With the words of Max Lucado “Jesus gives us hope because He keeps us company, has a vision and knows the way we should go.” Most often we get depressed when things look impossible. But with God anything is possible. That’s why there is always hope. No matter how bad things look like.

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (2 Cor. 4:16-18, MSG, emphasis added)

There you have it: Not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.
That’s our reason to hope: Not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

God is at work in our lives, his unfolding grace is blessing us day in day out. Even when we feel sad. Even when we feel bad. The trick here is to trust God even when we don’t feel like it. How do we do that?

We pray even when we don’t feel like it.
We praise even when we don’t feel like it.
We read the Word of God even when we don’t feel like it.
We press on even when we don’t feel like it.
We trust God even when we don’t feel like it.

Because feelings come and go but God’s love endures forever.
Because God is alive and active in our lives.
Because God’s unfolding grace creates miracles in our midst.

That’s why we don’t despair.
This too will pass.

 

Gracious God,
We feel the November blues, Lord.
It’s grace and foggy and the sun seems so far away.
But it’s not really the sun we miss.
It is you we need.
It is you who we want.
Shine on us, Lord.
Let us feel your presence.
Let your unfolding grace envelope us.
Create miracles in our midst, Lord.
Thank you for loving us
and taking care of us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How do you beat the blues?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you hope despite of everything!

Photo courtesy of Cosy Pete,design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Playdates with God.