I have maybe seen two or three episodes of the TV show Friends in my life. Shocking I know. I do, however, know the theme song. I’m sure you do as well, but just incase you don’t here are some of the lyrics.

"So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke
Your love life's DOA 
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year"

When these lyrics randomly popped into my head last night, I thought to myself “I bet this is how a lot of people feel right now.” 2020 hasn’t been an easy year to navigate, for anyone. Some have had it easier than other. Some have had it so hard, it is unimaginable to the rest of us. People have lost family members, some have lost jobs, couples have had to get married while their loved ones watched over Zoom. Some women had to give birth without support, people died without a family member to hold their hand, and many people’s mental state plummeted because of the isolation. You might read all of those things and feel completely hopeless. Or maybe you have personally been affected by some items that I mentioned and you’re really struggling because of it. Whatever the case may be, I am sorry that you are having a difficult time.

A few months ago, I was having a really down day. I was feeling frustrated that we were still living in these unknown circumstances . I was sad that my kids couldn’t have huge playdates with their friends. I was disappointed because some of the plans we made had to be cancelled… again. As I was driving home from dropping the kids off at school and rolling around in my self pity I said to myself “I just feel gray and cloudy.” I looked up at the sky and it was gray and cloudy too. A perfect match to my emotion and current state of mind. Then I remembered something. Just because my life feels cloudy, that doesn’t change the fact that above the clouds, there is sunshine. In that moment I remembered so vividly flying into London last year right after Christmas. We were about 30 minutes from landing, the sun was shining so bright and beautifully above the clouds. As we began to descend to land we entered into the clouds, and the clouds kept coming. On and on for 20 minutes. Then the thick, dark fog hit. I was beginning to wonder if I would even see London at all. But about 5 minutes before we landed I spotted the ground below. I noticed how gray and cloudy everything was. Quite the contrast from the perfect sunny day I was enjoying while soaring above the clouds. The drastic contrast from above to below really struck me. On my cloudy day, that memory really provided some beautiful imagery for my life.

I realize your current situation or mental state might not be what you would prefer. It might be the exact opposite of what you had envisioned. The conditions you are facing right now may be considered far less than ideal. But there is good news. There is a promise deeply rooted in scripture that never changes, no matter how your life may be changing. And it is this, God is still good even when your circumstances are not. Your circumstances change, they may go from bad to worse, but the character of God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. There is no situation too difficult or too unpleasant that can undo His goodness. Your life might feel like it has just come crashing down, or that you’ve lost all hope, but there is hope in the hopeless. There is light in the darkness.

Trenton has a famous saying around our house anytime I am worrying about something, or stressing over a circumstance. He always calmly looks at me and states “but God.” That’s it. That’s all he has to stay to help me shift my focus from my worry to the one who holds all my worries in the palm of His hand.

Being able to remember the day we flew into London really shifted my perspective on the gray day I was having not long ago. I was reminded that no matter how I feel or what challenges I am facing there is always bright beautiful sunshine above the clouds, even though I can’t always see it. Above your clouds there is sunshine too. Beyond your problems there is goodness. Goodness rooted deeply in love and grace. Today I encourage you to shift your perspective. Focus your thoughts on the sunshine you might not be able to see and the God who made it.