Hold. On.

Hey you.

Pretend I am sitting on the other side of the table at the coffee shop.

I am looking you right in the eyes.

Hold. On.

I know your hopes have been dashed.

Your spirit has been crushed.

Your dreams have been smashed.

Please.  Hang in there.

It is not over.

This is not a reflection on what God has in store.  What is to come.

Your eyes leak tears after he belittled the big plans you were making.

Your soul aches after another negative pregnancy test.

Your brain questions why you ever let yourself believe you would have this new home for your family.

Your inner voice calls out disparaging labels day and night after you lost your job.

This is a PIT STOP.  This is not the PROMISED LAND.

Do not stop here.  Do not wait in this place.  You keep moving.

It took the Shunammite woman seven years, losing her son temporarily, and giving up her homeland.  (II Kings 4 and 8)

It took the Israelites wandering in a desert for forty years before entering the Promised Land.  (Joshua 5)

It took David wandering under the threat of death until he was free to accept the throne.  (II Samuel 22)

Read Esther and Ruth and Gideon.  Read Mary and Martha and Jairus and the woman at the well.

It is darkest before the dawn.  This isn’t the end.  This is the prelude to a new beginning.

Do not lose hope.  Do not lose faith.  Fight Back.  The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.