Devotional | Trusting in the Process of Life’s Journey

Oftentimes, it is easy to forget that it is the journey we are supposed to value and enjoy as much as the desired outcome.

I find myself wanting the job finished, the research done, the piece written, instead of pausing to genuinely relish the process. It makes me wonder if there’s a part of me that fears I won’t finish the project.

Then I remember Hebrews 11:1:
To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

A little research revealed to me that in the New Testament, the word ‘hope’ comes from the Greek, elpis, meaning trust, expectation, and confidence. The above verse from Hebrews seems to encapsulate this meaning and tells me that faith, hope, and trust are partners.

Living in faith enhances every experience in any journey because we become sure of our outcome. Imagining the feelings and emotions that will reward me on completion of a project assists this process for me, bringing me into the moment and alleviating anxiety, because faith assures me that even if the end product is different to how I initially imagined, all is as it ought to be. This is a mindset that serves well for daily living.

I think this is why Jesus tells us “To seek first the Kingdom of God” because if this is always our focus, everything else will take care of itself. Sometimes, the only way to know the path, is to walk the path and trust in the unfolding.

Hope offers supportive expectation and is another wonderful gift in all areas of living. There is a grace in hope that is an ‘anchor for our soul’ rather than what I consider ‘outward’ hopes which are more like wishes for the future. In his beautiful book, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer, Brother David Steindl-Rast writes:

In moments when we are truly alive, we experience life as gift. We also experience life as surprise. Faith is the heart’s response to life as gift. The heart’s response to life as surprise is hope.

When I read this, it brings to mind times in my life when things have not run the course I had anticipated, but regardless of how wonderful or dire those times have been, I have been surprised by the gracious offerings life has gifted me. And when I reflect on these, hope blossoms within me because I am reminded that favourable possibilities are endless, which increases my hope-filled anticipation between the balance of ‘not yet’ and ‘just now’.

This, however, requires trust. Brother David continues to write:

The more the insight that life is given freely takes hold of us, the more our life will be a life of faith, a life of trust in the Giver.

Since being completely blindsided by my husband’s death, my sense of trust has been undermined. However, it is my faith and hope that are rebuilding my trust through grace. I can clearly see God’s faithfulness toward me, and He remains my anchor, whether the anchor needs to be buried deep to keep me still or pulled aboard to allow me to sail forward.

Do you recognise God’s faithfulness in your own life? Would you agree with Brother David that responding to life as surprise ignites hope? And do you trust in the process of life’s journey?

I would love to know your answers.