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Hey, friend, it’ll be alright
Amber Albee Swenson
by Amber Albee Swenson
August 31, 2020

I was streaming a playlist when a phrase I’d heard a million times hit me like a cool breeze on a hot day. And then the phrase repeated, providing the exclamation point I needed.

“It’ll be alright.”

Did you hear that?

“It’ll be alright.”

Headlines scream and rhetoric whirls and chaos keeps those of us who plan from doing what we do best (because the plan we made last week no longer applies). In a year of continual craziness, the words came like an answer to prayer.

“It’ll be alright.”

Not the correct “all right” I’ve been taught to use as a writer, because we all know we’re far from all things being right, but “it will be alright” because God is still on the throne.

For every inconvenience, hiccup, and major issue: it’ll be alright when we continue to turn to God. How do we know?

In the Bible, when three kings joined forces and made their way against Judah and King Jehoshaphat, God told Jehoshaphat through his prophet Jahaziel: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

When we face issues too big for us or impossible situations with no way to please everyone, we need to put God’s Word into practice. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). God, I am burdened. I need the mental rest only you can provide.

The apostle Peter tells us to cast, or hurl, our anxiety on God (1 Peter 5:7), and the apostle Paul reminds us not to be anxious about anything, but through prayer and petition to present our requests to God (Philippians 4:6). So why do we walk around with the weight of the world on our shoulders instead of letting God carry what we can’t? Take this issue, Lord; it’s too heavy for me. Show me what to do in this situation.

And it’ll be alright because God has never shuddered in the face of the impossible. The children of Israel, numbering maybe two million, craved meat in the desert. They grumbled and complained about the manna. Moses went to God and asked where he could get meat to feed all these people. In response God told the people to get ready because they would have meat, not just for a day or two but for a month. Moses balked. Even if all the herds were butchered or all the fish in the sea caught, Moses doubted it would feed the vast number of people for a month. God’s response: “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (Numbers 11:23).

The people ate meat for a month.

Too often we put our limitations on God and forget to tap into his limitless power. God, I need more patience than I have. Give me courage to face this problem, and give me tact to speak graciously to people who demand much from me.

And even if, God forbid, the worst-case scenario is the one we are given, God’s already there to meet us in that situation too. He will continue to provide what we need when we need it . . . daily bread.

Are you overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, carrying fears and worries you weren’t meant to carry? Stop and give them to God.

Trust him; it’ll be alright.