Howard Thurman writes, “Upon the night view of the world, a day view must follow. This is an ancient insight grounded in the experience of the race in its long journey through all the year’s of our becoming . . . it is insight woven into the pattern of all living things, reaching its grand apotheosis in the reflection of mortals gazing deep into the heart of their own experience. That the day view follows the night view is written large in nature. Indeed it is one with nature itself. . . Is there any wonder that deeper than idea and concept is the insistent conviction that the night can never stay, that winter is ever moving toward the spring?”

You may be wondering just now if winter really is going to move towards spring. Defeats, failures and heartaches linger. In our painful and difficult moments, discouragement sets in. We wonder how long we must endure before there is a break in our waiting for something better to come our way. We wait wondering if there will ever be a lifting of despair, a word of hope or that elusive good news that seems to find everyone but us.

Years ago, I read about a woman who said that her favorite passages in the Bible were the words, “And it came to pass.” She said that it reminded her that nothing bad would last forever. Whenever she heard those words, she knew that what she was struggling with would one day pass. In those moments when we are discouraged, when families and friends disappoint us, when our days are long and we wonder if the sun has given up on shining . . . it is good to remember that God is not done.

If you find yourself today, bogged down with stress and worry or floundering in a barren land – there is this word of hope. “This too shall pass.” “Upon the night view of the world, a day view must follow.”

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley
    I fear no evil;  for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff—
    they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4