If I want His promises, I have to trust His process. I have to trust that first comes the dust, and then comes the making of something even better with us. God isn't ever going to forsake you, but He will go to great lengths to remake you. What if disappointment is really the exact appointment your soul needs to radically encounter God?

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

We don't have to know the plan to trust there is a plan. We don't have to feel good to trust there is good coming. We don't have to see evidence of changes to trust that it won't always be this hard.

It's hard when we are living in that space where our head knows God can do anything, but our heart is heavy because He's not doing what we are hoping for.

When His timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention seems hurtful, and His promises seem doubtful, I get afraid. I get confused. And left alone with those feelings, I can't help but feel disappointed that God isn't doing what I assume a good God should do.

So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son" (emphasis added). And in the course of time, things will work out for me too. And things will work out for you.

If I want His promises, I have to trust His process.

Most men wait to move until victory is guaranteed.

One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. (Ps. 62:11—12)

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Josh. 1:6—7, 9)

The first line grabs me by the throat. "Therefore we do not lose heart." Somebody knows how not to lose heart? I'm all ears. For we are losing heart. All of us. Daily. It is the single most unifying quality shared by the human race on the planet at this time. We are losing—or we have already lost—heart.

It takes courage to seek God, and courage to wait for His reply.