Bright Hope For Tomorrow

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Once a year, I find myself in a hospital waiting room for my thyroid ultrasound. I normally dread this day—the time it takes, the discomfort of having a probe pushed against my throat, the What if they find something this time? fear that pricks at my peace.

But although I feel trepidation about this appointment, I’ve come to see it as a yearly gift of remembrance, where I am faced with my mortality and the reality that for all who follow Christ, the best is yet to come (see Revelation 22:1-4).

With this in mind, I rehearse these three truths to my heart as I lie on the uncomfortable bed, waiting to be prodded:

1. Our days are numbered. King David writes, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). We don’t know if we will live another day or another half a century, and this should compel us to live each day with a heart of wisdom (see Psalm 90:12). Numbering our days is not our natural inclination; it’s a discipline we learn from God as we live out his Word (see Ephesians 5:15-17). Life on earth is brief—like the breath we exhale on a cold day that is here for a moment and disappears the next (see James 4:14-15). Live for what will last—the Kingdom and glory of God.
2. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know the one who holds tomorrow. Instead of boasting about our plans for the future, we make our boast in God, his goodness, and his grace in this present moment (2 Corinthians 12:6-10). He has given us the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us into glory as we suffer with Christ (see John 14:26).
3. We are finite human beings, held by our infinite and loving Father. Though we face hardship and though our bodies break down and fall apart, he holds us together (see Isaiah 41:10). His Word and his eternal promises are steady and true, and his enduring love for us cannot be taken, broken, or shaken (see Romans 8:37-39).

So I’ll continue to hold these yearly reminders as gifts, knowing that even though life is fragile and fleeting, God is forever faithful. He holds us in the palm of his hands, and his purposes are always for our good and his glory (see John 10:27-30; Romans 8:28).

When something reminds you of the brevity of life and the reality of eternity, don’t turn away in denial. Instead, turn toward God in humility as you face the trial before you with his grace. No suffering we go through catches God off guard.

As the beloved hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” proclaims, God gives us not only “strength for today” but also “bright hope for tomorrow.”

Word before World We don’t know what we will face today, tomorrow, or in the weeks ahead. But we can endure whatever comes because the God of hope will fill us with joy and peace.

Grow in Grace What reminders of your mortality have you gotten lately? Ask the Lord to teach you that each day is a gift so you can live it with a heart of wisdom (see Psalm 90:12).