Patience and acceptance are often very hard things….
Patience to wait while God is working and acceptance that your present situation is His will for you, at least for the moment.

Some days –you know, those “big faith” days– it’s no problem.
We’re happy and content and resting in the knowledge that God is doing right.
I love those days!
I must admit, though it wasn’t always the case, I have more of these days than I do the “other” days.

But, oh boy…. Those other days pack quite a punch when they show up.
I’m talking about those “little to completely non-existent faith days.”
The days you wish you could pass hiding in the covers feeling sorry for yourself.
The days the enemy pounces on you and tries his best to convince you that God has forgotten about you.
The days you cry and cry and cry, hoping the tears will make you feel better…but they don’t.
The days where you’re tired of being patient and accepting of this reality.

Those days are the worst!
During those days, the memory of all the other good days where God has given victory and strength go completely out the window.
All you can see and feel is your own pain and heart break.

Isn’t it amazing how quickly we forget the times that God has “turned again our captivity,” and all we want to do is hang our harps back on the willows and sit down and cry?

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not making light of your pain. Believe me, I’m in the same boat.

I know how it feels to cry endless tears.
I know how lonely and empty you can feel.
I know how badly you wish for things to be different.
I know how frustrating the very words of “patience” and “acceptance” can sound.
I know.

I also know how The Lord Jesus can whisper the very thing your soul needs to turn it all around.
I know how He can comfort and sweetly remind you that contrary to how you may feel, He has not forgotten about you.
I know how it feels for that anger and frustration to turn into relief when you pour it out to The Lord.

If you’re having one of those days, I’m so sorry. I can identify with your pain.
Our details and circumstances and source of pain may be different, but I’m all too well acquainted with that pain.

Can I also give you a little advice?
Cry out to Jesus.
Lay it at His feet.
He may not take it from you, but let Him carry this burden with you.
Take time to get your eyes off the present situation and look back and remember all the times He’s rescued you in the past.
Remember who He is: the risen Savior, our Redeemer, the Great I AM, the Healer of the broken, the Feeder of the hungry, the Rest for the weary, the Provider of everything we need!

See, one thing I have learned is that in those days when all I want to do is feel sorry for myself, I need to praise the Lord.
Oh, I definitely don’t feel like praising Him, but is He not still worthy whether I feel like it or not?
Has He not turned my captivity before and given victory?

Take your harp down and sing Him a song simply because He is worthy.
One of these days, I don’t know when and I don’t know how He’ll choose to do it, but one of these days, the Lord will turn your captivity…my captivity…and we will be like them that dream.

Go ahead and sing Him a song while you’re waiting for that day, because you know it’s coming!
God isn’t finished with you yet.
Your story isn’t over.
Just keep singing!