Revelation 21 verse 4 reads, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Reading this brings me so much comfort. One day all the cares of this life will end, everything that causes so much hurt and pain will be no more.
People are dying all across the world like never before. Death from all forms of sickness and diseases, from natural disasters, and, unfortunately, death from war, crime and violence. Families are broken and feel defeated. For many, it is almost as if there is no hope.
It’s okay to cry
It always hurts losing someone you love. It's almost as if a part of you has been ripped away. Recently, I’ve experienced this and I want others to know that it is okay to cry. It is ok for us to let go of all the bottled-up emotions and take time to heal. In John 11 when Lazarus died, the word of God says Jesus wept, this illustrates that Jesus had experienced everything we are now experiencing.
Jesus makes the difference
We will all be faced with challenging times. Ecclesiastes 3 mentions that there is a season for everything. A time to live and a time to die, a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. In all these different seasons of our lives God will be there, he will be our peace, our guide and our comfort. God’s promises remain true, he will bring restoration if we depend and lean on him.
Isaiah chapter 43 verse 2 says “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” It doesn't matter what we go through in this life, God promises to be there. He is our peace amid chaos, let us embrace that.
I see you
The book of Ruth tells us the story of a woman named Naomi. There was a famine in the land of Bethlehem Judah, as a result Naomi and her family moved to the country of Moab for a better life. While in Moab, Naomi experienced some devastating loss; her husband and two sons died. She was so broken that years after she returned to Bethlehem, she told the community to call her Mara instead. Naomi believed that the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with her. In the end Naomi's joy was restored. She had a daughter in law who loved her immensely and a grandson who she took as her own son.
We do not have the answers to why certain things happen, but God knows all things and he sees all things. He knows exactly what we are facing, and he knows when we are hurting. Nevertheless, as he promises, he will work all things out for our good once we believe in him.
Let us not try to carry our burdens all by ourselves. Once we take it all to Jesus and leave it there, we will find true peace in him.
Remember Psalm 34 verse 18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
I am Victoria Richards, a third-year medical student at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Serving the Lord brings me joy. I enjoy sharing the gospel through singing, writing poetry and encouraging others.
