READ: ROMANS 8:18-39; REVELATION 21:1-7

Some days, I end up not eating breakfast. I’m not saying this is something everyone should do, but sometimes it’s what happens to me. I may not eat anything till noon. All morning, my stomach groans and grumbles, communicating its annoyance. And when I finally do eat, I find a lot of joy and satisfaction in my food. My stomach is finally content.

Lately, this experience has reminded me of a truth found in Scripture. In Romans 8, Paul (the author of Romans) says that all of creation groans in anticipation of Jesus returning to earth and making all things new. It (and we) long to be free of sin, death, and suffering. There is a holy groaning and grumbling that communicates all is not right. We see how broken the world is, and how broken we are. Alongside creation, we lament and cry out to God, telling Him how desperately His healing is needed.

And someday, Jesus will return. He will right every wrong, destroying sin, brokenness, and death permanently. Everything will be made whole again. There will be immense joy and satisfaction, and all of creation will finally be content. We will get to dwell with Jesus forever, living in His perfect love and peace.

So, during those days when my stomach remains empty till lunchtime, I let the grumbles and groans turn my attention to the brokenness of creation and my desperate need for Jesus. I let myself feel the hurt. Then, when lunchtime comes around, I let myself feel the joy. I smile, remembering the sure hope of Jesus’s return and the peace and contentment He will bring. I remember that, while there will be temporary suffering now, eternal joy is coming. Our holy hunger will be satisfied. We will feast with Jesus and each other. And I can’t think of anything better than that. • Taylor Eising

• Where do you see brokenness in the world around you? This breaks God’s heart, and someday Jesus will return to bring healing to the brokenness. How could this truth provide comfort?

• As we wait for Jesus to return, He invites us into the healing work He is doing. Consider taking some time to pray, asking Jesus to show you ways you can participate in His good work.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3-4 (NLT)