Look Over the Wall

There’s a story about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, walking with a troubled man who expressed doubt in the goodness of God. He didn’t know what to do with everything worrying him. Wesley pointed to a cow in a nearby field and asked the man, “Do you know why that cow is looking over the wall?” The man said he didn’t. Wesley explained that the cow was looking over the wall because she couldn’t see through it. “That is what you must do with your wall of trouble—look over it and avoid it.”

I felt sad and worried about a few things a few days ago. Add a head cold to the mix, and I became restless and distracted. So I took time to journal my thoughts, listen to worship music, pray, and focus on anything and everything in my life that I knew to be true and good. I lifted my chin, so to speak, enough to see over the wall of worry in front of me.

Sometimes, we can tear down the wall, walk around, or jump over it. But sometimes, we have to wait patiently to be rescued, whether that’s in the form of God miraculously removing the wall or in His provision of someone to help us overcome it. While we wait, however, we can lift our heads and find hope and joy in the beauty on the other side of the wall. And if it’s just a little too high, we can look at the wonder of the sky above us. We’re not obliged to stare non-stop at the wall as a constant reminder of our difficulties. 

What’s troubling you? I pray you can look over the wall and trust that good things are not too far away.

Ann-Margret Hovsepian has written professionally for over 25 years and has illustrated coloring books since 2015. She has written hundreds of articles and is a bestselling author, co-author, or illustrator of multiple books.

Books, articles, and products by Ann-Margret Hovsepian.

Фото: Pixabay.

© 2025 XMegapolis. Used by permission.

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