Sometimes life doesn’t go your way or the way you were expecting or hoping it would go. I always enjoy gathering with my spiritual and physical family on Sunday morning, but today I have to stay home. I’m sick, and there’s nothing I can do about it. However, I have to remind myself that I am not in control. God is. And for whatever reason, He decided I need to stay home today. He loves me, and I know He has a good plan for my life and that I can trust Him, even when I don’t understand what He’s doing. It’s hard; but I know He’s good.

So even though I cannot worship with everyone else in person, I can still have joy and hope, knowing that my good God is orchestrating and directing my life, even when it takes unexpected turns.

Romans 8:28.

Are you anxious about the future? Are you worried about how things will turn out, or when you will land that dream job or marry that person? Are you stressed that other people seem to get these things, but life continues to go by and leave you just the same as you were yesterday?

The best things in life are worth waiting for. Growing up. Getting a car. Graduating college. Marrying your best friend. All these things are wonderful and exciting, and part of that wonder and excitement comes from having to wait for them. But we shouldn’t make seeking those things our primary concern.

How good would ice cream taste if we could eat it every day? It might be tasty and exciting, but we would soon tire of it. No, part of the goodness and excitement that comes from life is looking forward to the good things we want but don’t have yet. If it’s worth having, it’s worth waiting for. Therefore, we should seek God first, trusting Him to provide these good things at the right time.

Be patient and trust His timing. He knows when to give you the good gifts you need.

”Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6:31-33.

I want to be a man. I want to be dependable, a fortress for the weak. I want others to find comfort in my presence and embrace. I want to stand for truth, though others cave and fall. I want to light a lamp of hope in the dimness of this world. I want to be a husband who loves and cherishes well. I want to shine for Jesus, like a beacon on the sea. And I hope that’s Him they see inside of frail me.
I want to be a man.

I was reading in “The Exemplary Husband” this morning, and I was struck by the intentionality of Christ’s communication. He didn’t speak randomly. Rather, everything He said was “holy, clear, purposeful, and timely.” Is our communication like that? Do we seek to only speak words that are holy, clear, purposeful, and timely?

Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” The people in our lives need us to speak the truth in love at the proper time. How can we better follow Christ’s example in this?