Some say the hardest part of a journey is starting- I disagree. I think it’s easiest in the beginning when everyone is hopeful and full of energy. At some point you’re going to get tired, depressed, start losing faith, and wonder if God can even hear you. But in those moments of uncertainty and desperation it’s crucial to keep pushing. 

Throughout my life, many things have been questionable, and many promises have been broken. However, there is one thing that I have continuously been able to depend on: Jesus Christ. It’s true if He brings you to it, He will bring you through it. 

In the Bible there is a bit in the book of Jeremiah, which Jeremiah wrote himself, that talks about when God placed the Israelites under King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule in Egypt. Naturally, this was upsetting for the Israelites. They wondered why this was happening to them and when will they be free from exile. Right now many of us are battling with the same questions. But God didn’t leave them without making a promise first. 

Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, “‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’” 

Similarly, God hasn’t put us in this position without having a plan to get us out of it. 

After 70 long years, the Israelites were brought back to their home in Jerusalem. 

I’m sure the Israelites hadn’t planned on being exiled for 70 years, but nonetheless, God came through with his promise. We didn’t plan on being in our situation either. It took most of us by surprise. But that’s okay, God sees things coming before they even get here; he already has it all worked out. Even if it doesn’t happen according to our schedule, God’s plan is still the best plan. 

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 

Although it may seem like God wants us to suffer, that is far from the truth. Sometimes God allows us to be in uncomfortable situations to show us things that we wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. I believe that is the case for us right now. As said before, he doesn’t want to cause us pain, but it has a purpose. He is using it to turn us to him. Until everyone realizes that, it’s not going to go away.

The book of Daniel is an autobiography written by Daniel who was a Jew. In chapter six of Daniel we see him getting thrown into a lion’s den. There was a new law created that prohibited praying to any sort of God. Daniel refused to listen and continued to pray three times a day which led to him being in the lion’s den. After being left there overnight, King Darius came to check on Daniel and called out to him. 

“Daniel answered, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight,’” says Daniel 6:21-22. 

Daniel left the den without a single scratch on his body. 

I can’t say that everyone is going to come out of our situation without a couple of bruises, but I can say that we are going to get through this. We are so close, I can feel it, we just need to hold on. What we are going through is only temporary, so try to make the most of it. We have more time with our families, more time to dedicate to Jesus, and more opportunities to help people. 

If you ever start to stray to the dark side of things, remember that the devil works the hardest when a breakthrough is the closest. Hang in there, guys, we’re almost there.