Tomorrow is never bleak for the believer who trusts Jesus. While your days may appear blurry, barren, and even dark, in Christ you have hope. Your future is nothing but bright and secure. You have the goodness of the Lord in you at all times. He is constantly making a way to bring you home to Him. He clears your path of anything that comes from the evil one who is trying to halt your faith. While you have to live in a sinful world that rebels the authority of God, you are to remain spiritually alive with Christ.
You believe that Jesus died, for your sins.
You believe God raised His Son from the dead, for you to have eternal life one day.
You believe expectantly for Jesus to return.
Jesus will either return to bring you home personally (which He does daily), or you may be a part of the generation who will not experience death like people currently do. The two books of Thessalonians talk about the glorious day where Jesus will return to bring all His righteous and redeemed children home to Him. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul gives a description of that glorious day.
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”16-18
There is a bright side to life when Jesus accompanies you on your journey. There is no greater hope and joy than knowing that Jesus never leaves you while you walk amongst the spiritually dead here on earth, and that He will see to it that you get home to heaven to fully be in His presence forever!
You can say on a daily basis, “It is good to be alive. My future looks bright!” You can celebrate this reality with others who have chosen to follow Jesus and live by the Holy Spirit in obedience. There will be a wonderful homecoming of all the Lord’s saints throughout the generations who will be gathered together for eternity. United in love will come to fruition for God’s Church.
In the meantime as you wait for that glorious day, keep the faith. Stay the course that God has called you to. No matter what hardships you face, no matter how trying life is today, know that God is with you and Jesus and all the angels of heaven are fighting the evil one that is against all that is good and holy on your behalf.
God is keeping you safe.
Even with unmet expectations and disappointments abounding, God is for you and He never leaves you. His presence is what you and I are seeking. When you focus on His presence, everything falls into place, even if your stresses, woes, frustrations don’t change. You are changed by His presence in those hard moments, and the bright side of life shines through.
Here is a passage of scripture to meditate on that will help you to keep looking for the bright side as you abide in Christ: Psalm 34:1-6 says, “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles.”
Carol J German 