Future Glory

Sitting on my patio I can’t help notice how absolutely beautiful the day is. The water looks so peaceful. The sky is brilliantly blue and the clouds are puffy and white. Concentric circles formed by fish jumping seem to dissipate into gentle ripples once the circles gets too large due to the soft breeze in the air. The parakeets are chirping as they are eating from the birdfeeder and other birds are flying in formation overhead. The turtles have climbed onto the bank to bask in the warmth of the sun, ducks are floating without a care, and palm fronds are swaying ever so slightly. The warmth of the sun kissed day is felt on my shoulders as I hear the laughter of children playing in a neighbor’s pool. Even a butterfly just fluttered in front of me. Everything seems picture perfect!

But is it? In comparison this is a stark contrast to a just few blocks away where life seems anything but perfect as friends, families, and neighbors grieve and mourn for those lost in the recent Stoneman Douglas shooting. People are walking around numbed by the event. People are crying and lost for words. Students are scheduled to go back to school this week yet fear and uncertainty is in the air. Nothing will be the same as it was just 10 days ago. Emotions are high, anger is present, and change is demanded.

I too pray this is a time of reform as many are fighting for a drastic change in laws, political positions, security, etc., however I pray the community wholeheartedly seeks the Almighty Father for answers. I know as we seek Him and share our faith in Him with others, He will be able to demonstrate true love and healing will result. Christ desires to know those hurting at this time but will wait for them to seek Him. I pray the students don’t get so wrapped up in the changes they think will make a difference without first seeking Him. I pray students turn to the truth and then live to know God is in charge of their life and He can be trusted.

“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God. ‘My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and those who pursue me.” Psalm 31:14-15

Words cannot express nor ease the pain everyone is currently feeling. My heart goes out to the student body of Douglas. Each and every one of them has a story they have experienced. They were in the midst of something we cannot even imagine. We can only be reminded this life is temporal yet life in heaven will be everlasting. Although we are saddened by the loss of our friends, they are now in heaven rejoicing with angels. They are in a place where crying, sin, and death is no more. Here too is a stark comparison of two completely different ends of a spectrum.

In this season of pain we are going through, realize we can’t understand it now and may never understand it but we can rest assured there is something glorious in it for us.

For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! Romans 8:18 (AMP)