Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14b NIV

I miss wonder. I'm sure I was once in awe at a dragonfly, a popsicle, a walk in the garden.

Kids ask a lot of questions. Why is your hair crazy gwammy? How are your tacos cooking gwammy? Did Jesus make the Legos too? Maybe we need to ask more questions and make less presumptions. But I'm not talking about dialogue in the world. The world's answers aren't reliable, they're self-motivated responses.

Ask the Father. Why God? Why is life hard? How do I take another painful step? Where do I go now? Then we have to listen… for the answers. "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to My words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body." (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT)

This past week I was a bit downcast, well more than a bit. I asked, as I padded across the kitchen floor, "God, how do we overcome this evil?" Clear was the response: 'How have I told you to overcome?' And then the verse written in my memory: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21 NIV)

But it doesn't seem like good can prevail. Will it God? Again His Word buried in my soul: "I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD. Be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:13-14 NIV)

Why should we, the children of God, ever be downcast? Victory over evil, over our messes, over death is already accomplished. How should we go about our days - days of turmoil and days of joy? They will mix and mingle with one another and add up to a lifetime. Lived well, they will look like a person: Jesus.

So, let's ask ‘why’ of only One. And listen carefully for His reply. His deposit in us, the wonderful Holy Spirit, will whisper the answers we need. Maybe not the answers we want. Always the answers we need.

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God… Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:6, 8-9 NIV)

Jesus, our souls long for You – and You are right here with us. Help us to remember that. To ask the hard questions and trust Your answers. To know that no matter how bleak things may seem, You do have all things worked out. Eternity cannot be taken from us and this is but a brief journey to a glorious forever. Yes, Father, we trust You in joy and in pain. In Jesus’ Name, Amen