Holding on

Carola sat on one of the dining chairs, with both hands wrapped around a hot cup of freshly brewed tea. She was anxiously waiting and staring out of the window, imagining what the evening would be like when Joe returned – with his surprise package!

Joe and Carola had been married for two years now – in fact, that night was their second anniversary. But almost as soon as they were married, Joe left for a peace-keeping assignment. Carola had been fully aware of his imminent deployment and was very proud of him, but like the old cliché, “it was easier said than done”, she soon realised how lonely she was without him. Goodness knows how many times she had unconsciously sighed out a prayer for him, “Dear Lord, please keep Joe safe and bring him back home safely!”

Carola was expecting him that day but won’t be going to wait for him when he arrived. They had an unusual arrangement about his homecoming. “I don’t want a loud homecoming. I just want to come home and take you away for a vacation. So, you need to be ready for me when I return”, Joe explained during his last video call. Waiting all these months was difficult, but tonight, it seemed very long and painful. She had survived by busying with work and volunteering to help people in her neighbourhood. She had also habitually read his emails, played back their conversations she recorded and recalled happy moments from the past and even the future! Now, she was wondering into dreamland again….

As she sipped the last mouthful of tea, a knock on the door jolted her to the present. “That must be him”, she quipped in excitement, almost tipping over the chair. She opened the door and fell into Joe’s waiting arms. It was the perfect homecoming for them!

One day, Jesus is coming for us too! – those who have repented from their sins and made Him their Lord and personal Saviour. We don’t know when because he did not tell us. But he told us about the signs of his coming (see Matthew 24 and Luke 21:25 – 36 for a full account). We see the signs all around us today. More than the signs, He promised to return, “Behold, I am coming quickly!” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). We also know that He does whatever He promises, hence, He can be trusted. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us”, 2 Corinthians 1:20.

But what about now? Sometimes, we have a need and pray to God, expecting an answer. Sometimes, the answers don’t come as soon as we would want them. But we can be sure that God is working out things for our good. His promises can be trusted. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”, Romans 8:28.

Notice however, in Isaiah 59:1, 2 that sin is one of the barriers to having our prayers answered. “…but your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear”. What to do? “Seek the Lord…call upon Him…let the wicked forsake his way…let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him…” (Isaiah 55:7). “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).