We all used to be or do something.
No doubt you have heard it too. “Before I joined the Marine Corps, I …” “Before I married my military guy, I …”
Just think back with me, because we’ve all said it too. Remember? High school debate team or basketball playoffs, college all-nighters with dinner at Olive Garden where we could subsist on salad and breadsticks, sleeping all night and cleaning only the mess we made. Or maybe we have fond memories of the speed of those PFT’s back in the day, days when responsibility belonged to somebody else, or mornings when stepping out of bed didn’t require stretching in order to move.
Jobs, positions, abilities. We all used to do and be something. We have fond memories of those times and reminisce. Sometimes in looking back, we long for those days. The memories of what we left behind can start to seem so much better than the place where we are.
Those glory days.
The life before us can look daunting at times. We may be looking at another deployment, whether we are the one going or staying. It may be a marriage that is harder than we ever imagined. Another move? We may be facing yet another assignment, another community, another church. The possibility of a career ending sooner than we planned? It’s not uncommon. Challenges with extended family and not having the ability to get there to help, these moments happen as well.
These days in which we live can make the days we left behind something for which we long. Dreaming of what used to be can make those things seem better than the place we are and even cause us to desire those times again.
Even today, when all is “as it should be” we can want to hold on to today tighter instead of letting it go for what God has for us tomorrow. Tomorrow is unknown, and unknown can be scary. If today is good, why would we want to step into something that’s not? We forget that God is good–always.
In all of these circumstances and millions of others, the “glory days” we left behind or even the beauty of today can make us wish for something other than what God has for tomorrow.
As fabulous as some of those memories can be, they have nothing on the things to come. Our GLORY DAYS are still yet to be.
The “glory days” we left behind are just an inkling of what’s to come.
The God who loves us and gave His Son for us has much more planned–good things–than we could ever imagine. They may not be on this planet, in this lifetime, though. The true GLORY DAYS are beyond time and space, a place He has prepared for us.
“They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” (Philippians 3:19b-21)
“So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is you life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” (Revelation 21:4-5)
Promises of what’s to come, this is what He gives us. He asks one thing in return: obedience, to do what He called us to do today in the place where we are, no matter how difficult it may seem. Regardless of what we left behind, what we are facing today, or even what tomorrow may bring, the promise of what is to come is so much better. Our obedience in today is such a small token in comparison to the gift we have and will receive.
We have to keep our eyes on the prize, my friends, the GLORY DAYS are yet to come.
What are you facing today for which we can pray? Do you get distracted from the “prize” and how do you keep your focus?
Kori Yates loves adventure. Her former life as a Marine and ongoing stint as an Army wife has given her just that. Desiring to bring together Christian military women and impact a globe for Christ, she has helped launch Planting Roots. Through events, online Bible study, and a social media community, their prayer is for revival among military women. Kori is also an author (Olive Drab Pom-Poms) and speaker, as well as a homeschooling mom of two amazing kids and wife to one awesome Soldier.
