Reflection
If you should temporarily lose your sense of well-being, don’t be too quick to despair. With humility and patience, wait for God who is able to give you back even more comfort. There is nothing novel about this to those who are familiar with God’s ways. The great saints and ancient prophets frequently experienced the alternation of up and down, joy and sorrow. -Thomas á Kempis
I used to keep this quote on my desk. I probably still should. In recent years, I’ve found myself succumbing to the temptation to despair more and more quickly; in all likelihood, at least a few of you who read this can sympathize.
Today, however, I’m reminded of the second sentence of this quote. God is able to give us back our sense of well-being at the right time. Today we had two surprise gifts arrive at our house—gifts which met needs and communicated that our friends are really with us—and I had a wonderful conversation with an old colleague whom I hadn’t seen in person in many months.
It was the comfort I needed.
Now to remember God at the bottom, in the trough of the wave, when despair seems the most natural thing. “There is nothing novel” about my sorrows nor is there about yours, so there’s nothing irrational about such waiting, such humility, patience, and trust.
God is able in our lives too.