Wonder in the Tough Times

Wonder: a temporary suspension of knowing on the journey of discovery. Wonder is a question mark leading us to an exclamation point. Wonder leads us to knowledge when we follow its cues.  Even in terrible circumstances, wonder can be a gentle companion.

Wonder in Difficult Waters

When the seas of life stir up and we are tossed and tempted, pluck a few minutes to wonder. Wonder can be a gentle companion on the difficult seas of life.

• “I wonder how I got here …”
• “I wonder where this will lead me …”
• “I wonder if I can avoid this predicament in the future …”
• “I wonder if it is as bad as it looks …”

Journaling Wonder

Journaling can help us wonder, can help our children wonder. We can wonder aloud or on paper, pondering our true feelings, our honest thoughts, our genuine laments:

• “I wonder if anyone cares …”
• ”I wonder if I am as alone as I feel …”
• “I wonder if things will get better … or worse …”

We can also wonder journal such things as:

• “I wonder where this grief, for example, will take me …”
• “I wonder how I can navigate the circumstance to safe waters …”
• “I wonder how I can best respond …”
• “I wonder if rest would help …”

Sharing Wonder

We can share our wonderings with our children, with our spouses, with our friends.

• “I wonder why this makes me feel so …”
• “I wonder why this hurts so much …”
• “I wonder why God would let this happen …”
• “I wonder if you see something I don’t …”
• “I wonder what I can do to make this more pleasant …”

Praying Wonder

As we wonder, we can let our thoughts lead to God.  A breeze through a few Psalms can lift our wonderings to the heart of God.

• “I wonder how God feels about this …” 
• “I wonder what He is willing to do about this …”
• “I wonder how I can best pray about this …”
• “I wonder how I can glorify Him in the midst of this …”

Wonder-full Application

Wondering about the challenge can lead us to making wonder-filled applications to our circumstances.

• “I wonder what I can do to make it better …”
• “I wonder how much it could be better if I …”
• “I wonder if this is my responsibility …”
• “I wonder if it really matters …” [maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t]

Take Moments to Wonder

Take moments to wonder even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Wonder: a temporary suspension of knowing on the journey of discovery.

Every time I have been at the bedside of someone in the hospital for stretches of time, I find a place to wonder.

It may be the hospital garden, a solarium, a riverside walk, or a visit to the chapel. Any place I can step away from the worries to wonder, allowing the wonderings to lead me to prayer. Find a place to step away from the worries to wonder. You may find wondering does wonders for your soul, for your well-being, and for your homeschooling journey.

“I wonder … what do you wonder?”