Keep Reading: It’s Not the End of the Book
For years, I have kept a little slip of paper tucked between the pages of my Bible. It says: “Keep reading. It’s not the end of the book.”
I found that piece of paper again yesterday, somewhere in Isaiah, and it brought me a great measure of needed peace.
Because there’s so much turmoil right now, almost everywhere I look.
The world has been filled with so much ugly,
so much sad,
so much pain.
We’re gripped by the threat of terror, and the horrific sight of knife-wielding men who have no regard for life. And people all around us are struggling, grieving, aching. Dying.
But I held that slim scrap of paper between my fingers — a reminder that we are mid-story.
There really is a Happily Ever After.
And that Happily Ever After was most assuredly secured with three nails, two beams, and one astonishing Son of God who loves us that much.
The story isn’t over. Not your story. Not the story of your wandering child. Or your cancer-weary mama. Or this busted-up world. Or the story of God. That story? His story? Stretches out into forever.
And there are things we cannot yet see.
We’re moving toward a grand and glorious finale. God is reconciling everything to Himself. And He is not an absentee landlord of Earth. He is here. And He sees.
I read these words in Ephesians this week: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
He’s working it out. Even if it isn’t making any sense right now. He. Is. Working. It. Out. In everything and everyone.
One of the greatest joys of being a Christ follower, is reminding each other that for all the brokenness we’re living under, a remedy exists. The Happy Ending is coming. We’ve got to remind each other that the story isn’t over:
“It’s not the end of the Book.”
Praying with you today.
How can I pray for you? Comments are open for prayer. Even if I don’t respond to all of your comments, I promise to pray for all who gather here.
Pray for my son, Daryl, and his girlfriend, Julia, for a safe journey. They are moving in 2 weeks from Houston to Denver. They are so excited.
For those who are bullied and who bully. It is starting for my girl, a second grader. For my son with brain cancer who is living alone far away (his choice), for my sick grandson with asthma, for all the world. I pray as well for all of it.
There is so much I could say, but I don’t even know how to say it anymore, let alone pray for it. I feel like lately I’ve been praying the same things a lot and I just don’t know how else to pray for them or that they just feel like empty words. I’m in a place right now where I feel like God is not listening and feeling very far away from him and his promises. Its been a long season of waiting and praying and crying out to God to bless us with a baby. We finally got pregnant this Summer after almost 2 years of trying. We were ecstatic, but lost the baby, and just couldn’t understand why when we thought it was God’s perfect timing, that’s just new life would be taken. Right now my prayer would be that He would make beauty from ashes and that He would turn this story into something beautiful and use it for His glory. I am praying for healing in my body and in my husband so that we are able to conceive a child, and for trusting in God’s timing no matter how hard it is to wait. Right now I’m believing and praying for a miracle.
Oh Nikki. I have been there. While everyone grieves in different ways, I can surely empathize with you. I experienced both a miscarriage and a still birth. Both were very traumatic. But God, in His mercy, allowed us to adopt two sons, 7 years apart. This was after trying to get pregnant and then to carry a baby full term. That was 10 years. We have been given children in a different way and we are thankful! We have also been given opportunity to empathize with many others along the way. I will pray for you Nikki.
It is NOT the end. How I needed to hear this today, Jennifer! Surely her had you find that little slip of paper so you could slip in the truth right here–truth of which we need so desperately to be reminded. Thank you sooooo much.
Love
Lynn
Thank you for this truth. Please pray for my son to return to the Lord with all his heart, to live a surrendered life and live it for God’s glory
Beautifully written, thank you.
It surely is a busted-up world, but the fact that God is not an absentee landlord is an amazing bit of hope and encouragement. Blessings to you, Jennifer. Thanks for the reminder.
“He’s working it out. Even if it isn’t making any sense right now. He. Is. Working. It. Out. In everything and everyone.” Your words here, Jennifer, reached out to my heart and filled me with comfort. Like you, I look at all the travesties going on in our present time, and my human frailty wants to give up hope. Jesus tells us otherwise: we must ever have hope, faith, and trust that God is working everything for good. Thank you for the inspiration! Blessings!
Please pray for my family as we continue to walk one step at a time to follow where God leads now 6 months after my husband’s sudden death. He is leading and guiding – we need to be faithful to follow!
Lorilee,
oh, so sorry…praying right now for God to comfort, provide and lead you…Deut. 31:8…
Thank you.
Thank you!
Yes…thank you 🙂
Our family is in shreds. 14 months with no job. Angry adult children . Hurting in a harsh world where nothing seems fair. Sad grieving parents, lost for answers. Small grandkids lost in the mix. Wedding plans ruined. High school graduation not much of a celebration. Youngest baby off to kindergarten. Faith holding fast clinging to God like wet clothes in a rain storm.
These words from Ephesians are just what I needed to read today. Thank you
Yup. Amen. Preach it. Thank you.
Please pray for my husband, lots of health issues, that the Lord might be pleased to heal him. For peace-one person one town, one country at a time.
Beautiful friend, this is just what I needed to read today. Thank you. Please pray that I can somehow find the money for weight loss surgery.
itching, rash, boils, stress adds hives. no relief w drugs, homeopathy, detox–2+ years w no relief. adult child has added to the stress, parent health concerns. I am a woman of faith but this has put me on my knees literally as well as spiritually. thanks for praying
I really do believe in the power of prayer – I pray that God will create in me a new heart: one that is totally committed to being the wife that God wants me to be, to being the mother God wants me to be, to be healthy and fit and looking after myself. I don’t just want to “appear” to be those things – I actually want to be them, in my heart. Thank you for your prayers. Such a blessing to be part of blogging community that actually has an impact in our lives and in our actions. Thank you.
Dear Jennifer: I realize I’m a little late in reading this post, but I’m so glad I finally had the time. Your words have ministered to my heart today, a heart like so many others right now, burdened for our world and all that’s happening in it. It seems to grow scarier every day. I must try to remember at times like this that God is still in control. He has a happy ending in store for His own, yet I feel so sad for all those who continue to go their own way—so lost—and will they ever bow the knee to The One who holds our tomorrow?!? The needs are so great.
Truly I thank you for the encouragement, Jennifer.