It Will Be All Right

Have you ever been so familiar with a story that even though you agonized over the trials the characters go through, you knew that things were going to turn out all right for them?

Recently I re-watched the Miramax version of Jane Austen's Emma - a darling and humorous movie which I love! But even though I've seen it several times, it still drove me crazy to see their frustrations and hurts and misunderstandings.

And then as I was watching Mr. Knightley and Emma battle their feelings near the end, I glimpsed the grand tree that serves as a background for one of the sweetest and most joyous scenes of the movie, and I was struck by a moment of profound happiness. For, you see, I knew that in just a few moments Emma and Mr. Knightley would find their bliss. Soon it would be all right!

With that realization came a grander realization - God knows our stories. He still goes through our journey with us, comforting us in our sorrows and hurting when He sees us in pain. But I believe He also rejoices in knowing all of our happy endings, and most especially our happily-ever-after as believers at home with Him in heaven!

There is much I don't understand about God and how He works, as He is far above me and His ways are not my ways (and I still have so much to learn!). But I can imagine, knowing that He is my dearest Friend and my heavenly Father, that in the moments when I'm in turmoil, unsure about what the future holds and anxious about how things can ever turn out OK, He says, "Don't worry. I know what's coming, and in the end it will be all right."

No matter where He guides us in life, if we are saved through His grace we know that He is working for our good in all things (Romans 8:28) and that in the end it will be all right.

(Picture of movie's soundtrack cover is from Amazon.com.)