The future comes only one day at a time

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.   - Abraham Lincoln A friend had this posted on her facebook this week. It got me thinking. If you knew the future, would you have chosen not to give birth to your child? If you knew the future would you have done something different on the day he died? If you knew the future, would you just bury your head in the sand, like an ostrich, because it’s dangerous out there?

It’s a very good thing that the Lord does not give us very much information about our individual futures. But what He does say is priceless. He says there will be trials and difficulties. He says He will be with us through it all. He says He intends everything that happens, to bless us and make us more like Christ. And He says he is preparing a place in His heaven for those of us who believe that He and the Father are one. That’s the end destination of the future, to be with Him. (references for these thoughts include: James 1:2, I Peter 1:6, Matthew 28:20, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:29 “to be conformed to the image of his Son,” John 14:1-3)

Here’s something else He says about the future:  

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Your heavenly Father knows that you need [these things]. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:27, 32-34

 The “Judy translation”: Don’t worry about tomorrow. There is too much to worry about anyway. And it won’t add a moment to your life either. God knows what you need and will provide. So seek Him and everything else will be ok. 

Lincoln speaks wisdom when he says the future comes one day at a time. He gained that wisdom from hard things in his life and a “simple faith” which he described as “good enough for me.” He and his wife had 4 sons, but 2 of them died. One died before Lincoln became president. The other, Willie, 11 years old, died in 1862 during the height of the Civil War. Can you imagine the weight of the war on the president, and then add the death of his son??!! No wonder he is glad the future doesn’t come any faster than one day at a time.

Our Lord promised to provide comfort and strength and hope for us, one day at a time. Like he provided manna (food) one day at a time for the Israelites in their desert travels, so He provides for us daily, but not in advance for tomorrow’s troubles. Take your grief journey one day at a time and watch Him provide you with the comfort you need that day. He is faithful.