This is not the post I had planned to write this week. That one will come later, but it was a post about dealing with old wounds and former pain. This week, I’m not in the place to do that, because I find myself too much in the middle of new problems and current pain.

Some of the week’s stresses are just my current job situation, exacerbated by the recent flood of my office and the decision to abate asbestos on that floor during repairs, meaning that I have to pack up the office and have a smaller temporary space somewhere for the rest of the semester. Not a huge deal, since I’m primarily working from home this semester, but a bit unsettling not to have my usual office space and things available at need. And, of course, not convenient to have to deal with packing things up in the midst of an already too busy semester.

Then one of my sons called. That is not my story to tell, but I will say that it was not good and it did involve him coming to stay with us while looking for a new place to live. There is good news. He has found a new place which looks like it will be a good fit for his circumstances. The other problems that led to the crisis, however, will be with us all for some time to come.

So I and my family find ourselves in the middle of turmoil, where it is sometimes easy to call out and cling to God, but also easy to cry out in frustration and blame.

I often turn to the Psalms at times like this. Many of them contain cries of protest and cries for help born out of struggles and pain, mingled with reminders and gratitude that God is in control and he does care.

This time, my son drew my attention to Micah 7. Micah describes a world of barrenness, struggle, and mistrust. Then he declares:

But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
    I will wait for the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me.
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
    when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me.
Micah 7:7-8 ESV

This is the response we need to have when we’re in the middle of the struggle, still dealing with the chaos of life. God will hear us. He will be our light when we look to him—when we wait for him.

I usually find it easy to stop and pray for a short time when the problem happens. That’s especially true when the problem is a big deal because those stop me in my tracks and force me to look up from the tasks of my day. I personally struggle with the waiting and continued prayer. I want to do things, to fix the situation, to exert control.

The answers, the salvation, are not in my control but are in God’s hands. My prayer for myself, my family in our current struggles, and all of you in the problems you find yourself in the middle of, is one of Paul’s: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13 ESV).

What we feel in the middle of our problems is not reality. God can and will provide hope and help to see us through to the other side.