Tonight I'm thinking of all the people who are going through a world of hurt. My coworker's sister just lost her fiance, on Thanksgiving Day, due to a car accident. Another coworker's 98 year old grandmother is dying. Several people in our church have serious health issues, and none of us are getting younger. One of the most difficult things in life, I think, is to watch a loved one go through a serious illness, either terminal or debilitating. This year it seems to have been worse than usual. How does you keep your sanity when there is so much heartache in the world? How do you find and hold on to joy when the storms of life threaten?

As Christians, we have a steady Rock to stand on. When we lose loved who know Christ, we don't mourn like those without hope. I try to remember that even in difficult times, we should always praise God. We should remember that Christ will return.

On that day, the sources of light will no longer shine, yet there will be continuous day! Only the Lord knows how this could happen! There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light. On that day life giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously both in summer and in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord--His name alone will be worshiped. (Zechariah 14:6-9)

I'm kind of thinking with this continuous light, we will no longer need sleep. We will no longer hurt, or cry, or have to deal with grief. Sometimes I get kind of homesick thinking about this. Help me to persevere Lord.