“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” –  Ecclesiastes 7:8 

“There is light at the end of the tunnel” – the closest this quote comes to scripture is in the first part of our verse for today, “the end of every matter is better than it’s beginning.” I want us to narrow this analogy to train tunnels. From the outside, train tunnels are long dark roads that seem dangerous to navigate. It is dark and lonely, often infested with rodents and reptiles; a person who wants to navigate the tunnel would need a substantial amount of light for guidance.

The path of life often takes us through tunnels, difficult situations that require light – the word of God – to navigate. King Solomon’s insight on the verse, “the end of every matter is better than its beginning” signifies that with time, God’s children always get out of difficult tunnels/situations unscathed, and His ultimate intension for the challenge is unveiled, which is always as grand as it gets.

The end of a matter is better for every Christian because the Lord is deeply invested in the process. As Oswald Chambers notes, God never believes that the end justify the means; rather, he believes that “the end explains.” As believers, our lives are better understood at the end. God often hides our end from us because He is as interested in the process as He is in the end, we can rest in His word that His “plan is to prosper us and give us a future.” I encourage us all to embrace the process and count on Him completely.

To us all who may be going through long dark tunnels, God is telling you to keep holding the torch. Keep holding on to His word, for that is what will guide your path and lead you to the other end, the expected end. Difficult situations are always liaised with confusion and a great degree of uncertainty but the promise of our Lord stands, “all things work together for those who love the Lord, those who have been called according to His purpose.” As long as you’re walking in purpose, you are good, you will find the light at the end of the tunnel.