suffering is real. i am aware of the reality that the day is coming when i will follow my child in the ambulance to the hospital or hold the hand of nic when the doctor comes in with the news. it is a humbling reality that suffering is inevitable, for all of us. i'll be a wreck during those moments and even more keenly aware of the reality that i all too often cling to the idols i have created, approval, comfort, control, power.
God in the flesh came, suffered, died, and rose again, to offer hope to a broken world. to a broken me. to restore shalom.
let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of inward shame, but fix our eyes upon the cross and run to Him who showed great love and bled for us. beneath the weight of all our sin you bowed to none but heaven's will. no scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown, no burden great can hold you down. in strength you reign forever, let your Church proclaim:
Christ is risen from the dead
trampling over death by death,
come awake, come awake
come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
we are one with Him through faith
come awake, come awake
come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? O Church, come stand in the light, the glory of God has defeated the night. Our God is not dead, He's alive! He's alive!
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
-Revelation 21:1-4
Clinging to hope.
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