In a Fog

As I went for my walk last Monday morning, I left the house and heard the weatherman had mentioned “fog in the area” on my way out the door. I didn’t get far before I realized that his weather forecast was on point. It was foggy, indeed. In fact, as I crossed over a bridge in my neighborhood, I had a pretty great perspective of the foggy Monday morning so I snapped a picture to send to my family.

Seeing how it’s Halloween season, I also dropped in the word “spooky” in the picture because, well, fog can be spooky! And why is that, exactly? Because it limits our perspective. It doesn’t allow us to see what’s in the distance, it only allows us to see what’s right in front of us. Let’s be honest. We want the whole picture in our lives, right? Who likes a partial picture? Fog potentially holds hazards just beyond our sight and not seeing the whole picture puts us at a disadvantage. Or does it?

As I walked in silence amidst the fog, I reflected back to the words from James I had just preached the day before. James spoke on patience amidst suffering. The challenge was to live in the present, being patient with one another in our words and actions, and trusting that God has the future under control and enduring amidst the struggle. So, today, remember the following…

First, the Lord is returning. James mentioned this several times in James 5:7-11. Why? Because it was a comfort to the early believers that their struggle was not in vain. Jesus was not only present with them through the power of the Holy Spirit, but He would also be returning to bring heaven to Earth. It was a promise and this promise brought great comfort. It was a comfort then and it’s certainly a comfort to all of us 2,000 years later. Second, God is accomplishing something in you.

As we endure, we are reminded that the very fruit of the Spirit Paul mentions in Galatians 5:22-23 is the same fruit growing in the soil of our hardships. Let that fruit develop as you dig in and remember that God is growing something in the midst our hardships. Third, don’t forget that God’s promises are true. James says that even in Job’s story we learn that God is “full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11). Did you know that when Moses asked God to show him God’s glory, the very first words God uses in Scripture to describe His nature are the words, “compassion and mercy?” (see Exodus 33:17-19) It’s who God is.

So friend, find comfort in the fog. Take heart, fellow sojourner. The Lord is returning soon. God is accomplishing something in you. God’s promises are true.