Philip Yancey tells a story about a professor in Spain’s golden age who worked to translate the Song of Songs (a biblical book) into the Spanish language. Sounds good, right? Well, at that time it wasn’t allowed. As a result, the professor was taken away and tortured—for four years!

Eventually, he was allowed to return. He went to the front of the classroom, took his usual place, and continued with these words: “As we were saying yesterday…”*

Talk about a man who isn’t easily thrown off course! He continued his lecture as if no time had passed! My sense is that despite his personal pain and hardship he wanted to resume the task he thought God was calling him to do.

In Psalm 57 David was experiencing distress. He wrote: “They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves. My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music” (verses 6-7). David knew that God was leading him forward, even while he was being chased and challenged.

I truly believe that one day in heaven those of us who are in Christ will look back and see how God was leading us forward, even while enduring hardship. Standing on the other side of the finish line with a crown of glory we’ll see how the twists, turns, cuts and bruises, didn’t win. 

When you’re in a trench, it’s hard to see beyond the mud. That’s why you need to have faith and hold firmly to the hand of the only One who can see over the horizon.

Don’t let today’s defeat steal tomorrow’s victory.

“My heart, O God, is steadfast.”

---

Notes:

–“Our Big Brother Jesus.” Sermon. October 13, 2024. Click here.

–*Philip Yancey, Vanishing Grace (Zondervan: 2014), 138.

 –Bible quotes are from the NIV.