On February 1, the house across the street still glowed with lovely Christmas decor at nighttime. Six green wreaths with sparkling illumination and two miniature trees by the front doors decked out in golden lights.
A few days later, our neighbors added red hearts to the front door while retaining the Christmas wreaths and lighted trees. It may be February, but the vestiges of Christmas were very much present. We are by nature, holders. And often, what we hold on to most are the things that project, produce, and point to past joy. No matter who we are, where our thought processes lay, or what we believe in, many of us have this in common:
- We want a bit of happiness.
- We want this happiness to stay a little longer.
- We want to hold on to things and thoughts which remind us of happy or happier times.
These are moments we want to linger, marvels we warrant to remember, and memories we wish could be relived. Because sometimes, it’s hard to move on from where we are. Especially when uncertainty prevails in the next season of life. When we are dangling in a dead end, dodging deadly arrows, dancing with drama, detained by distractions, disheartened by disappointment, derailed by disaster, disheartened in discouragement, down in the doldrums, and dragged into defeated places.
So we imagine a little space of happiness. Where we can color it with glimpses of the life we picture could be ours. Where we can dream that the positivity of joy can become a possibility, not a probability. Not too much to ask for, right God?
To fill in this space……..We lean into the next financial paycheck. We lunge into the next fab weekend. We look for the next faithful relationship. We long for the next festive holiday. A few examples of our anticipation of the “next something” which can resonate happiness and hope.
But in the “in between time” as we wait……
•until the payday arrives
•until the weekend comes
•until the loneliness departs
•until the holiday to celebrate starts
We can still praise God. Though my circumstances, conditions, and calendar slay me, yet still will I trust in God with my expectations.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines;
When my hands can’t find the results. My hands do not hold my expectations. My hands hold onto God.
even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren;
When my hope can’t find a resolution. My hope doesn’t hinge on my expectations. My hope hinges on God.
even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
When my happiness can’t find a reason to show up. My happiness doesn’t happen as a result of my expectations. My happiness happens through God.
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
My expectations are found in the joy that God is working even when my hands, heart, and happiness can’t see the outcome.
–Habakkuk 3:17-18
No flowers and fruit…..I will still rejoice.
No fields and flocks…..I will still rejoice.
No firm certainty of a fab future……I will still rejoice.
In the in-between of life, God is still drawing and designing our story. The scarcity is not our story. The scary is not our story. The scar is not our story. Our story is not solely about what we can hold in the here and now. The best part of our story rests in the behind scenes and in a God who is in control of every picture that frames our life, the barren and bountiful, the battering and beautiful.
No money in the bank. I can still rejoice.
No massive fun on the weekday. I can still rejoice.
No meaningful relationship in the works. I can still rejoice.
No making the holidays bigger than life. I can still rejoice.
And for this season in life…..no miracle to ensure no winter storm days again. I can still rejoice.