And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5 NLT).

Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon (Revelation 22:6 NLT).

I’ve believed in the promises of the Bible for a long time. Through the hard times. Through the good times. Through pain. Through lack of pain.

The past couple of months have been difficult. For Jim as he suffered so much pain through this bone infection–but for me too. We are one flesh so what he experiences affects me as well. We share together in the suffering.

This isn’t the first time I’ve watched a strong man endure terrible pain. And through both difficult circumstances, I can tell you the only way both of us withstood those times were through the presence of Jesus. He was there, right alongside us.

There were many promises I clung to in those hard times. One especially: For God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.” 

Today, I read once again a promise and hope: Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.

Human beings have suffered pain and trouble since Adam and Eve failed to obey God in the Garden and that affected every person after that event. But at some point, if we believe, we are promised eternal life, free of pain and most of all the promise God will live with us.  I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 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.”

At some point in the future, we will not have to experience death or sorrow or pain. No more tears. But now, even in the sorrow, he promises to be with us.

For a long time, this verse that has given me comfort:

 

I am delighted to tell you that Jim is much better. His bone infection is gone. His pain levels are decreasing. We give praise to God for this.

At some point, each of us will die. You and me. It happens to all of us. But if we believe in what God has done for us–came to earth as a human, yet still was God. Who lived and gave his life for us and best of all, rose to life again, we will live with him eternally. That’s a promise we cling to. It gives us hope and joy as we trust.

I pray you know that hope he gives. I linked the Bible verses above so you can read them for yourselves. Just click on the links.

May you experience the God of hope in your lives as each of us experience joy and sorrow. Pain and freedom from pain.

I’ve been reading carefully the lyrics of Christmas carols this season, and the following words stand out: On a day when men were counted, God became the Son of Man, That His name in every census should be entered was His plan. God, the Lord of all creation, humbly takes a creature’s place; He whose form no man has witnessed has today a human face.

I hope you enjoy the full song below:

May your year be full of the presence of Jesus until he returns for us.

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