Tough Stuff

One of my friends has been going something very difficult involving another one of her close friends. She even wrote me a letter to talk about how hurt and confused and guilty she was feeling. We've talked since and she's feeling better, but it was still very painful for both of us.

Meanwhile, someone I met this summer went to Belarus to serve on a missions trip, and one of the house churches he was working with underwent a raid. Although the country's website will tell you that most of the country is Christian, it's actually a government-planted religion that bears little or no resemblance to the Gospel. Their government also has the power to declare any unwanted religious actions illegal, so what my friend was doing was technically breaking a law. He and many other have been imprisoned, but I haven't heard much else for over a week. On a positive note, several house churches have doubled in size since the raid - everyone wants to see what's worth risking lives for! Not knowing what's going on there has caused me crawl further into God's arms.

I know what the promise is:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, 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 heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:1-8

On earth, sometimes it seems like "the bad guys" are winning. But the truth is that, in Christ, we have already won. We just have wait, and worshipping the Lord is the perfect way to do so.



Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

The LORD reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!
He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved!
The LORD is great in Zion,
And He is high above all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awesome name—
He is holy.
Psalm 99:1-3