Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Bella was a slave girl. Hard, grueling days demanded no rest, complaints, or protest. She had heard a rumor about a move to end this torture and fervently asked God every day to fulfill this. So, encouraged by what would seem like a slim hope if God wasn’t involved, this young girl pushed forward. One day, as she was grinding wheat to make flour, being careful not to smash her bare feet, she looked up at the commotion among her fellow workers. When she caught what the excited women were saying, she praised the Lord. “Dave said that he heard about Mr. President ending this here slavery!” one particular woman announced. “Well, I’ll be!” another said. Though there was still work to be done before freedom, Bella could see that the faint glimmer of hope was slowly growing brighter.

[This was written by my 12-year-old niece, Alyssa, and I think she makes a poignant point here about the reality of hope. For the character in her story, the hardship wasn’t over, but something better was yet to come. It was sure to come. And that made all the difference. When we’re trusting God and waiting on Him, something good is certain to come, even if we’re dealing with something not so good right now. His plans and purposes are being worked out, so we can be encouraged to endure and to persevere.]