“I can now look back and see so many of the question marks yanked into exclamation points in my life. I am so thankful that He said “no” to so many of the prayers I desperately wanted Him to answer with “yes.”

– Mary Southerland

This quote really spoke to me today. As I pondered over the last several years I see so many question marks have become exclamation marks and for that I am so grateful. I pray today for faith that one day I will see today’s question marks become exclamation marks showing God’s faithful care and sufficient grace in each detail of my life.

When you reflect on your life and see unexpected turns and plots twists that have occur in your life do you observe also how even when God said “no”, how He had something better you could not foresee? Did you grow more dependent on God through those times or see how He has used them to mature you spiritually? Those are questions marks turning into exclamation marks. God cares so much more about our holiness and eternal good than our current comfort. All He sovereignly allows is for our eternal good and for His glory. He wants us to become more like the image of His Son. Too often I only see that in the rear view mirror not the moment I am going through it. Because of past experiences and seeing His goodness in the hard times, it gives me hope for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. He will, if not in this life, but in eternity change all our questions to exclamations marks. That gives me and you so much hope!

May you see God working thought His no answers and plots twists and be filled with hope.

Blessings,

Deb