City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.³ 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. ⁴ 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 21:1-4 (NLT)

Aisha’s Analysis

The above scripture shows us that when God enters the scene, He takes away our sorrow and brokenness. He gives us beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning (See Isaiah 61:3). 

Knowing there is such a glorious restoration in our future should give us hope for today. In fact, God has already begun the restoration process in His church. He’s fixing us up from the inside out. 

While we may experience painful situations in this life, letting God in begins the healing process. While we are here, it’s never too late to turn to Him. No matter how bad things have gotten, letting Him in changes everything. He will help you process the pain while still making room for the unspeakable joy that flows from His glorious presence. The amazing thing about God is He’s bigger than our pain or problems. We tend to lose sight of that in the thick of life, but it’s true all the same. 

Part of being unshakable is letting God in and making room for Him to move. Listen for His instructions and follow them. Let His skillful Spirit guide you through this life and the next. Don’t just wait for the new heaven and earth to get here for Him to come into your life. Let Him in now. 

Application

While God’s full restoration remains to be seen, we can experience a taste of that now. God sent Jesus into the world to save sinful humanity from utter destruction. Christ in us gives us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). 

You may be experiencing the pain and sorrow that inevitably comes from living in a broken, fallen world, but don’t let that discourage you from turning to God in this moment. Let every pain prompt your praise. As you let God into your situation and into your heart, you’ll find that He’s still God no matter what you’re going through. Take comfort in knowing that He will one day wipe away every tear and take away that sorrow.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for being who You are regardless of what happens in my life. You are unshakable. It’s in Your unchanging nature that I find rest. May Your name be glorified in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.