"Your best days are ahead of you."
A friend said those words to me, and I replied, "Based on what?!" as I gestured to the surrounding area in disbelief. I felt stuck in my job, and my efforts to find a new one had turned out empty. I was battling cynicism and bitterness toward people I had trusted, who betrayed that trust. To top it all off, my circumstances showed no sign of changing.
It's easy to believe your best days are ahead when your present situation gives you clear evidence. But what happens when everything you can see suggests your best days aren't ahead of you? What do you do when it feels like your best days are visible through your rear-view mirror?
The phrase my friend shared comes to mind when I listen to Gateway Worship's song, “Best Days.” The song’s central declaration is something that I would have struggled to sing at one point: “I’m on my way to my best days.”
After all, none of us know exactly what tomorrow holds for us. Next week could include answered prayers and new opportunities. However, disappointment, losses, and suffering could lie ahead, whether we choose it or not.
But if you listened to “Best Days” more closely as I did, you’ll find that Gateway Worship’s confidence is not based upon a prediction of ideal moments. The lyrics of this song are rooted in confidence in who God will be no matter what comes next.
In a post on their website, Gateway Worship describes what they hope this anthem will stir up inside the listener's heart. “Rooted in the Word of God and the confidence that He always keeps His promises, the song reminds listeners to keep walking by faith, trusting His purpose, and looking ahead full of confidence. The same God who called us by name, raised us to new life, and set us free is still working today, so we can declare with confidence that our best days are still ahead!”
According to Gateway Worship, the secret to cultivating a “Best Days” attitude is looking backward before you look forward. Our confidence in God’s faithfulness remembers what He has done in the past, trusts what He is doing in the present, and holds onto hope for what He will do in the future.
If you’re struggling to believe this about your best days, don’t overlook the importance of the order present in this song. When you can’t see those good days ahead, you can look back and review the story of God’s faithfulness to you (and others He dearly loves). In Psalm 77:11-12, Asaph writes, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.”
What you focus on from the past shapes how you see the present. When my friend offered me a “best days” viewpoint, I couldn’t see where God was working. But just because I couldn’t see it didn’t mean God wasn't moving.
Perhaps this is why Philippians 1:6 brought me great comfort for many years. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
There is a big difference between nothing changing and nothing happening.
Have you ever assumed that God wasn’t working because you couldn’t see the results of his work? Me too! Scripture constantly shows us that God’s best work often happens in ways and places we don’t initially see. That’s why the Apostle Paul speaks about “pressing on towards the prize” in Philippians 3:12-14. As Gateway Worship sings, Paul trusts that the view looking back will be very different from the view in the middle.
For those who worry about a “best days” attitude turning into prosperity theology, there’s an important line near the end of the song. “I will not fear the fire, I’ll walk right through the flame.” This lyric reminds us that God doesn’t insulate us from fiery moments, but He does walk with us through those flames. This section of “Best Days” echoes the opening words of Isaiah 43. “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
If the message of “Best Days” could be summarized into three steps, they would be to remember what God has done, trust that God is still working, and believe that God isn't finished.
Your best days won’t necessarily be the times when everything worked out neatly or when you escaped the fire. My hunch is those days will be the moments where you discovered who was with you in it. So if your best days seem more visible in the rear-view mirror than through the windshield, review what God has done. Trust that He is still working. Believe that He isn’t finished.
Your confidence about the days ahead doesn’t come from knowing what’s next. It comes from knowing who will be with you no matter what comes.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker who loves tacos, matcha, and sneakers. With more than twenty years of ministry experience, he teaches with a blend of Biblical truth, emotional awareness, and the compassion shaped by his own struggles.
Scott’s writing has impacted over ten million people through trusted platforms such as the YouVersion Bible App, Air1 Radio, and Our Daily Bread. He’s the author of Faith Behind the Song, a 40-day devotional book published in partnership with K-Love Books. Whether speaking on a stage or writing on a page, he offers a steady, empathetic voice that reassures people they are seen, loved, and not beyond God's healing reach. You can sign up to receive his weekly newsletter at ScottSavageLive.com today!
