Finding “Happy Ever After”

Our book, Now Choose Life!, follows my husband’s thirty year battle with sexual addiction AND his journey to freedom. The first section of the book chronicles the escalation of his addiction. It’s very real, and provides a lot of insight into what makes a person vulnerable to addiction, but that part can, admittedly, get a little depressing at times. I sometimes wonder how many people have had the urge to flip to the end of the book while they were reading about his downward spiral to see if the story ends with a “happily ever after” or not.

How many times in our own lives have we wished that we could just flip ahead and check out how it all ends up? We’re convinced that if we could just know that everything will eventually be OK, it would be easier to handle the difficulties we’re slogging through today.

If we knew for sure that we would eventually find the love of our life, maybe we would be able to enjoy our single days a little more. If we knew that in a year or two, we’d get a big raise or win the lottery, maybe today’s financial struggles would be less nerve-wracking. If we had assurance that we will, in time, find freedom from our addictive behaviors, maybe we could stop beating ourselves up so badly every time we failed. If only we could have a glimpse of how it all turns out . . . THEN we could just relax and wait for things to play out.

Unfortunately, we rarely get that glimpse into the future that we want so desperately. God didn’t give us a crystal ball . . . but he did give us abundant promises to help carry us through the challenging times.

• He promised we’d never be alone . . . no matter what happens he’ll be with us (Deuteronomy 31:8 and Romans 8:37-39)
• He promised that he has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
• He promised that he will give us rest when we are weary (Matthew 11:28-29)
• He promised us eternal life (Romans 6:23) . . .  and so much more.

We can’t SEE the future. But we can KNOW that, when all is said and done, there IS a “happily ever after” for all of us who love the Lord.

“But, as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net