Daily Archive

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

When was the last time you were so afraid that your stomach felt like a huge knot? You woke up in the middle of the night full of concern for your kids, your finances or the doctor’s report? How long has the pain from the divorce haunted you? While the physical bruises may have healed, how is the pain from the hidden emotional bruises affecting your life, your relationships with others, or your view of God? When are you going to be able to let go of the anger and bitterness, to finally forgive and move on?

On this journey called life we spend so much time trying to survive. For some, getting up every morning is a painful chore in and of itself. Physical pain is often far easier to take than the emotional pain we bear. Still we get up and move on. We fear death, but wonder how long we can endure life.

The good news is that someday, all this pain will be gone. One day, we’ll get up in the morning without a single thing to worry about! The things that anger us? Gone. The things that worry us? Eliminated! The bruises (seen and unseen). Forgotten forever! The pain of being cheated on, abandoned or abused? Replaced with comfort, joy and peace.

When we think of death there are so many unanswered questions. But rather than dwelling on what we don’t know, think for a moment about what we do know. Someday, when we cross that river from life as we know it here to eternity with Jesus every tear will be wiped away. Death will lose its grip on us. Sorrow and pain will be no more. We won’t know hate, only love. We’ll not harbor worries, only relief. We won’t contend with sickness or hunger, our every need will be met.

When we see Jesus all the pain and agony we experience here on earth will be eliminated. Paul says our current sufferings are nothing compared to the joy we will experience in the presence of our Lord Jesus.

The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us. Romans 8:18 (NCV)

Was Paul treating your pain lightly? Was he unaware of the struggles and worry we all go through? Certainly not! Elsewhere he alludes to the fact that every day of his life was spent in fear of beatings or execution. But Paul also knew that no matter how big your pain now, once we reach glory our pain here on earth will seem miniscule.

Oh happy, happy day. That day when I leave this earthly shell to join my Lord Jesus. Am I suicidal? Most certainly not. With Jesus at my side I shall live life to the fullest and enjoy the many blessings I have here. But I will not fear death! Although I will go through pain here on earth as a result of my own choices or the abuse of others, I will keep my eyes on that day when all my pain will be no more!

PRAYER: Lord God. In the midst of my worries and fears; while I fight physical and emotional pain here on earth; when I’m scared of what I see in our economic and political environment, I praise you for the hope I have to join you one day in Heaven. Even though my pain is great here, I know my joy will be so much greater when I see you face to face and you wipe away the last tear I’ll ever shed! Alleluia. Come quickly Lord Jesus!