“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.” —Revelation 21:4
When my father died, I went through a period of intense sorrow. Although I was a Christian and fully convinced my dad was in God’s presence, the void didn’t seem like it could be filled with anything or anyone.
Maybe you’ve felt similar pain, like the loss of a loved one, the anguish of unfulfilled expectations, or a grim diagnosis. In Revelation 21:1–6 we find several anchors that will keep us firm during the storms of life.
One that we particularly need to hold on to is our identity in Christ. When we face pain, the hardest days occur when we experience feelings of loneliness and lack of purpose. In these times, we need to remember that we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17), we are complete in Him (Col. 2:10), and we are His Bride (Rev. 21:1–2). We have the opportunity to face adverse circumstances and respond to them with wisdom and self-control, because what happens in our lives does not escape the eyes of God.
Make it Personal
What can you do to remind yourself of your identity in Christ during the difficult times of life?