Maranatha

For a while now, my constant prayer has been, "Maranatha." Lord, come. Often times, this world and this life is overwhelming for me. I am confused. I don't have answers. I don't know what to do. In our world filled with brokenness, my only choice has been to look to the Redeemer who is sovereign, clinging to His promises, waiting for everything to be made right when Christ returns. 

The injustice that persists in this world has left me with a burden that I just can't shake. Racism, police brutality, human trafficking, wealth inequality, sexism, the list just goes on and on. While I feel like these things have been normalized and often overlooked in our society, for me the past 17 months has been filled with an increasing awareness of these realities and it is tough to handle. Grief and anger have been emotions that I've become uncomfortably familiar with. I've spent many nights defeated, knowing I can't do anything to fix it. And it is sobering knowing that sin will still continue to tear this world apart. Terrorism and mass killings will continue to happen. Institutional racism will still exist. People will continue to be viewed and treated as less than human. As much as I wish it would get better, I just have to face reality. It is no easy pill to swallow. Our world is still broken and only the Lord can fix it. The good news is, He promised to do so.

Today, we celebrate a man who dreamed of better days. A man who God used in His work of redemption, as he fought for justice. Martin Luther King Jr. had his eyes set on the hope that is in Jesus Christ. His faith was firm in the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. And out of this, he left a great legacy and his dream still lives. His life and legacy taught me much about hope and how to press on. Even though no man, policy, or anything on this earth can fix its brokenness, praise the Lord for using people like Dr. King to carry out His will. In the midst of this darkness, God is the light who gives us glimpses of His coming kingdom. And while much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.

Maybe my heart will never get to rest. Maybe I will carry this burden until the day I die. But in this present suffering, I will look to Jesus. I will continue to fight, knowing that even now God is still working in this world. And I will long for the day when He returns, redeems, and renews all things. One day, sin and death will no longer have any power. Until then, I will hold on dearly to the Lord. I have no other hope. Maranatha.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

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