Guest Blog by Hadassah Treu from the Devotable App
We live in challenging times, struggling every day with discouragement and disillusionment. And in such times, God’s Word encourages us to hope again and be glad because of what He is about to do.
Sometimes I can’t take it anymore. It is simply too much. I can’t hear another heart-breaking story, see another child cry, or listen to a hurting friend without having the feeling I might collapse under the weight of so much pain. My heart cries out to the Lord for comfort and relief, and deep longing finds its way through my sobs and muttered words. I want to live in a world without pain, without sorrow, without injustice. I want a world without tears and death. I want Eden restored.
Is this an impossible dream?
I love the book of Revelation. It is the last book of the Bible; a beautiful unimaginable end to the story that started in Genesis with God’s creation and ends in Revelation with Jesus Christ declaring His impending coming. His second coming in glory is what all creation eagerly awaits because this means that everything will be made new and no longer will there be any curse. (Revelation 22:3)
God paints for us a glorious vision of the future, a future in which the faithful believers will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:4-5)
How can we bridge the gap between this glorious vision and our broken reality? How can we be sure it is time to hope again? What to do in the days and moments when we can’t take it anymore and hope dwindles? Isaiah gives us a roadmap for cultivating hope and joy.
In chapter 65 God speaks again about His unwavering intention to create a new heaven and а new earth, promising that the former things will be forgotten. Then He instructs us always to rejoice in what He will create.
Friend, when the present hurts and the future seems black and uncertain, remember God’s promise to create new a new heaven and a new earth. Let the meaning of this mind-boggling vision instill fresh hope and joy in your weary heart.
We can be joyful because:
Nothing is forever lost. Nothing is in vain.
God, through Christ, is the Redeemer of all our losses and suffering.
All things will be made new.
God promises to restore everything.
All evil will be completely overthrown.
All things will be made right.
Our bodies will be redeemed.
There will be no more death.
Life in the very presence of God awaits those who love Him.
Because of all this, we can cultivate joyful anticipation looking with hope at the times ahead. In many places in the Bible, God assures us that future joy is not comparable with the present pain. But in the meantime, we need to hold the tension and stand in the gap between what is now and what is to come. This is what the life of faith is meant to be.
Our feet walk in this world, but we fix our eyes and hearts on another reality–on God’s kingdom and His loving presence. Only in such a way can we become people of unwavering hope, shining like stars in dark times of chaos, uncertainty, and suffering.
When we have the feeling that our small private world or even the entire world collapses, let’s remember that this is the best time to hope and wait eagerly for the fulfillment of God’s awesome promises. We can always rejoice because “the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:6)