People talk about it in different ways, but all of us at some point want God to intervene in our circumstances. We want God to step in, take control, interrupt, get involved. We think, if God would just move into this moment, my life would get so much easier. Be careful what you wish for.

Everybody has some group they refer to as “those people.” For you, they may be a different color. They may have voted for a different candidate. Your “those people,” may march in demonstrations or stand up for law and order. Here’s the thing – whoever they are – God loves those people.

God doesn’t have to do a miracle to work a wonder in your life. If he is with us, we don’t need a miracle. In fact, our ultimate rescue was pulled off not by a miracle from God but by him refusing to perform one.

What if interruptions are really God-given appointments for compassion?

It takes all of thirty seconds on Twitter to realize that gentleness is not a widely embraced concept. If we’re going to see better days head, though, we’d better get a handle on this virtue. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us why and how.

All through the Bible, when God’s people needed someone to move in, step up, speak out or reach down; someone to serve, sing or bless, God called on a woman.

Even if you lived the commands of God better than anyone else ever, you’d be good. But not good enough. If you could somehow recreate the world just the way you’d like it, it would be good. But not good enough. God can make both you and the world better than good.

Is the hope that there are better days ahead so much wishful thinking? Numb denial? Blind optimism? Or is it based on something real, substantial and rock solid? An ancient hymn holds some answers.

Genesis 1:1 is about getting started. It begins, “In the beginning, God created.” Genesis 2:1 is about finishing. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in their vast array.” I’ve seen road construction projects that were started decades ago and are still not completed. And their array is not very vast. God always finishes what he starts. That means there are better days ahead.