But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfilment. Romans 8:24-25 (TPT)

More To Come – What’s Next Series – Part 5

Go to PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5

What do you do the after the day you’ve waited for your whole life for? Or dreaded your whole life? What happens next?

What did Mary do, think and believe in the days after she gave birth to Jesus? As she fled to Egypt? When she lost him in the crowd only to find him in the temple? When he turned water to wine? As his influence and reputation swung like a pendulum from hero to villain (depending on who you talked to)? As he was beaten and tortured and hung on a cross? As he came back to life with holes in his hands and side?

What’s next after that?

Don’t fear.
Wait.
Trust.
Hope.
There’s more to come.

I’m not a huge fan of the saying, “The best is yet to come.” How do I know that the best is ahead? How do you say that to a mother who’s child has been given three months to live? Or a victim of abuse? The list goes on…

At its essence, this saying isn't about circumstantial “best,” but I think we prescribe that to it.

We must remember that the best things in life are not things. They aren’t even circumstances. Sure, I hope for better circumstances. I’d love a bigger house, better health, a nicer car, an easier job, definitely more money, healthier self-esteem, a more functional family (love you guys)… but these things may never happen.

I may never get the “sorry” I deserve, the book deal I want, the promotion, the money, the house… maybe the “best” to come doesn’t reside in those things.

Or things at all.

And what about for those living in poverty? War? Refugees? Displaced? Homeless? Disease? Betrayal? Falsely accused? Rejected by community? I cannot, and will not, throw them a catchy line like that. What they need are our ears and our willingness to see them and hear them. Empathy, not platitudes.

Hope is a word, yes. But hope is tactile, too. It’s made manifest through our eyes, hands, tables, homes, feet, ears, arms…

There is more to come. More life to be lived, more lessons to be learned, more love to give and receive, more mistakes to remind us of our humanity, and more grace to remind us of Divinity. There is more work to do, more sleep to have, more food to grow and make and distribute.

Einstein said: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

The sun is going to set tonight, and we'll say goodbye to 2016. Tomorrow morning, the sun will rise again, and with it, a new year. Do what you need to – take the time to cherish the moments that changed you, mourn the ones that hurt you – do the work. And then…

What do you do now? What’s next?

Who knows.

Meet it with all the love and grace and courage you have.

Written by Lizzy Milani.
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