What do you do when you have days that leave you undone? Do you let discouragement get you down or do you hang on to hope?
Recently I had a doozy of a day. It was deadline day for a story I wanted to submit in hopes for publication. When the electricity was cut at 10:00 a.m., I didn’t think much about it. In our Middle Eastern city, this is a common occurrence.
The thing is, when the electricity goes, so does the water! (And of course, the internet.)
I took a break from home school to cook lunch, and by 1:00 p.m. we had stacks of dirty dishes and pots on the counter. Still no electricity or water. We started getting cranky due to discomforts like not being able to wash our hands. ( I’ll spare you the details about not being able to flush toilets!)
When I found out that the electricity cut was nationwide, I began to panic. My computer battery was low. How could I revise my article? How could I send it with no internet? Why had I waited until the deadline?
In faith, I started editing and re-writing my article after homeschool. I snapped my laptop shut before totally exhausting the battery, and took off to find a cafe with generator power where I might use the internet to submit my story.
I went to three places and couldn’t find internet. Had my hours of work been in vain? By nightfall we went to a restaurant to eat dinner, and got home to light candles. I left the house at 8:30 p.m. to try one more place where I might find internet connection.
Finally at 9:30 I sent my article, and when I got home we had lights and running water again. I fell into bed that night exhausted, hoping for a better day tomorrow.
No matter what a day brings, we can hang onto hope.
Maybe you’ve had some challenging days yourself lately. Take heart. Tomorrow brings a new start and a new chance to see God’s faithfulness. No matter what happens today, we can trust our loving, powerful Savior with tomorrow. God has everything under control.
“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:23)
If you blow up at your kids today, apologize. Tomorrow God will give you a do-over.
If you failed again today, tomorrow brings a fresh start and forgiveness when you confess your sin.
If problems overwhelm you today, tomorrow brings a fresh opportunity to see God work.
If you’re worried today, tomorrow brings a new chance to trust God and receive His peace by faith.
If you’re suffering depression today, tomorrow brings the hope of renewal.
“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
No matter what the day brings, we can hang on to hope. Tomorrow brings another chance to see God’s faithfulness and receive new mercies.
Now it’s your turn: what comes to your mind when you think of tomorrow?
I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday. Writers all around the world join in a flash mob of free writing. Five minutes. No editing. This week’s prompt is “Tomorrow.” Join us over at Kate’s place for fun and encouragement.
Also joining with Grace & Truth, and The Weekend Brew.
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This is such beautiful hope for my heart today. Thank you!
Thanks, Barbie!
betsy, i enjoyed reading your post today. it brought back memories of our 7 yrs. in jamaica when the electricity would go out along with the water:( those were the years when we had babies and up to a 6 yr. old.it was lots of “fun” when that would happen a few days in a row and the diapers would be running low during rainy season! of course, we didn’t have computers then. only typewriters…but they were electric! (most of the 1970’s)
we tho’t we were going to be there longer than we were, but suddenly, the govt. decided not to renew work permits and that was that! they allowed us to stay there to finish out the school year with out them, but then we had to leave. it was sad for us all.
Thanks for sharing about your time in Jamaica, Martha. We have much more regular electricity and water here than 25 years ago when I was in Istanbul two years! I’m aware that any time our residence permits could be revoked. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
I love this, Betsy. As I pondered what I would write for FMF and Grace & Truth, I saw so many verses that used the word tomorrow. I love that each tomorrow brings fresh mercy and grace. Have a blessed weekend.
I saw the same thing, Leah! So many verses! I loved your angle on tomorrow!
You read my mind with this post, Betsy — well, not the specific details, but the constant hope that tomorrow will be a fresh start because God provides new beginnings. This Lamentations passage has become my lifeline and I’m so thankful for His grace. Thanks for sharing today!
It’s a lifeline for me too, Jeannie. And the idea of a fresh start does hold promise!
Hi Betsy! This was written for me! I have many days where I don’t get anything (or very little) done on my ‘to do’ list. I’m still recovering from the leg thing, but I want to push, push, push. I can so relate to your publication frenzy! I’m so glad you were able to get it submitted. Deadlines, especially the ones I have for myself, can cause a decent amount of anxiety.
Thank you for the good word about tomorrow. God should lead me. Sometimes I put up a list that even the most organized person couldn’t dent, and that’s just silly. I try, God succeeds.
Have a wonderful weekend, and hope you’re at full power too!
Ceil
Blessings on your weekend, too, Ceil. I was wondering how your leg. You take it easy and take care of yourself! Yep, I can relate to getting nothing done. That day without electricity was a case in point. You keep waiting to see, “Will it come back on???” God has things under control.
Thanks for your post! I had to smile at your story of cut power since I grew up in Uganda and we had powercuts in such moments as well. 🙂 It teaches you flexibility and a lot of trusting God, right? 🙂
I love your encouragement, there’s new hope and always a new tomorrow, what a privilege!
Happy Friday to you! – your FMF neighbor
So you know what powercuts are like too! Yes, you’re right, they do teach flexibility! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
I love that you listed areas where I just need to remember there is a tomorrow. Girl, you definitely persevered in your writing submission. No give up in you girl.
Thanks for the encouragement, Carmen. All I could think was, “I’ve already put in so many hours. How can I let them go to waste.” So I persevered til I found a way to send it! I don’t think there’s any give up in you either!
Well you know what I think of when I think of tomorrow. I love the idea of do overs and I love Lamentations. The comfort I feel in that verse is beyond words. Thank you for the beauty in your words.
Thanks for being here today, Mary.
So glad you linked up this beautiful post at The Weekend Brew! Happy Weekend!
Words for a Saturday morning!
Morning by morning His mercies I see!
Blessings on your weekend, Betsy. Going on vacation with the family for the week (so excited), but will catch up with your words when I return.
Oh, I hope you have a wonderful vacation week with your family, Michele. That IS exciting! So glad for you!
Wonderful word, Betsy. Tomorrow >> hope!
That’s what tomorrow says to me, Joanne. Blessings to you!
Betsy…thank you for encouraging me today! We have close friends who lived in Turkey for 10 years and the reminiscing of your day brought back many memories:) Mostly, I felt God’s presence while reading your words. Thank you!
Thanks, Janelle. I hope you have a great weekend, experiencing God’s presence, with extra time to breathe!
Wow! Those power outages teach us a lot, don’t they? Patience, trust, gratitude- just to name a few:) Our church (and many others in our town) had power out Easter Sunday! God’s lesson that He is our power source.
I like that, Kristine! He’s our Power Source!
Such truth and hope Betsy! And such calm in the face of your storm! I will hang on to this hope: His mercies are new each day!
Thanks, sweet Ellen. Yes, His mercies are new each morning!
I could wake up to these wonderful assurances and promises forever. 🙂
What an amazing God we have!
I can relate to so much of this! What solid reminders to trust He’s got whatever it is we are facing. Thanks for this encouragement and for linking with Grace and Truth 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Arabah Joy. I so appreciate the Grace & Truth community.