My new year started rather despondently. New Year’s Day party plans fell through, as did plans for a quite night with my husband.  My Christmas holiday contentment was replaced by subtle apprehension for the future, the stress of post-holiday clutter, and friction with those closest to me.  The events that are unfolding around the world incline me to reflect on end time prophecies.  Reading the book of Revelation was far from comforting; I am not convinced that those who preach “pre-tribulation rapture” are right, though I sure hope so!  I worry about the future my children may have.  When hard times come, it is easier to imagine myself enduring suffering than it is for me to imagine my children struggling.  An eternal perspective does help; the painful side of life will just be a blip on the screen of memories once we see Jesus face to face, but I still don’t want my children to have to suffer.  No parent does.  Yet it is “for such a time as this” that our children are entrusted to us.  Many of the great heroes of the Bible were quite young!  It all comes down to trust in God.  Do I believe he is able to completely provide for my family and me?  Do I believe that trials are sometimes His gift help us get beyond the temporal and see His Kingdom values and power?  Do I believe He passionately cares about my children?  Yes.  Yes, I do believe.  God help my unbelief.

Joy