For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man… Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
When things aren’t going our way, or life is especially difficult, or when we feel as though our journey through the wilderness is a permanent station, we often ask the question, “Jesus, where are you?”
Sometimes these journeys last so long we can wonder if our faith is strong enough or if our God is real, caring, or concerned. These are real emotions and real thoughts that God cares about.
Jesus speaks to the disciples in Matthew 24 about how hard things will be near the end of all things. He describes a reality to them so difficult that they needed hope. The trials ahead would push believers to ask if their faith is strong enough or if God is real, caring or concerned. Jesus knows that these times will be hard and that life is difficult, so He makes this promise: My return will be no secret.*
There may be a situation in your life today that you feel that you need Jesus to “show up.” You need breakthrough; you need relief. Jesus knows that times are hard, and here is His promise: I’m coming back and you will know it.
There were times in my life that I was very concerned about missing God. I was concerned that He might want me to do something and I would miss it. Make no mistake, when it really matters, in the end, you won’t miss Him. Even the world that gave up on or turned their back on Jesus will know He returned. Don’t give in to difficulty. Hold onto hope. The world will mourn for the time that they wasted not believing; they will mourn because it’s too late.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to surrender to Him within the difficulty while holding onto the hope that He is and the hope that He has promised. Perhaps today God wants you to return to Him. Maybe God wants you to step out knowing that you won’t miss Him when it matters.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 602–610, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 24:15–29).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).