Not Somehow, But Triumphantly

Somehow just doesn’t sit right with me.

Today we find ourselves on the tippy-top of the mountain, hump-day, round-the-corner day, Wednesday. (By the time you read this, we will likely be heading down the hill to Thursday.) I do not usually post on Wednesdays, but in times like these, I think we could all do with a little mid-week encouragement. I have been stuck on an old phrase lately, and you might get stuck on it too.

We will make it through this season, not somehow, but triumphantly.

It is said that the wonderful expression “not somehow, but triumphantly” gained popularity among Christian missionaries in the prisoner-of-war camps of Japan during World War II. Day after day, they rose, fixed their eyes on Jesus, and gathered the courage to proceed.

COVID 19 has changed our lives. People are isolated and alone. Encouraging smiles are hidden behind mandatory masks. When a child falls on the playground, she can’t be hugged. We are afraid to go to the emergency room when we break our arm because we might come home with a cast and COVID. We are all losing our eyesight and our sleep staring at blue-lit screens at an increase of 185%. (Thanks for staring at this one a few minutes.)

Will things ever be normal again?

I don’t know. But one thing I do know. If we rise each day, fix our eyes on Jesus, and gather the courage to proceed, we will make it through this season not somehow, but triumphantly.

Click here for a printable version of this image to stick on your bathroom mirror, your fridge, or your steering wheel!

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14).

@audreycfrank