What are you looking forward to?

It can be hard living with uncertainty and not having things to look forward to. I remember when I lived in Bolivia for 6 months, I thought I'd adjusted so well to the culture. I was no longer upset if things didn't happen, I was happy to just go with the flow. But when I came back to Australia, I realised how much I missed looking forward to things! In order to cope with a life of uncertainty, I had not allowed myself to get excited about anything I 'might' get to do. For many, living with the uncertainty of a devastating pandemic and global lockdowns is a huge culture shock. The uncertainty is hard, and watching so much suffering around the world is even harder. If you ask someone what they are looking forward to, it likely relates to a decline in the impact of the coronavirus.

During our first online church service we read a story from the Big Picture Bible (a kids' book based on the Bible). That day's story was about Adam and Eve disobeying God, and the pain and suffering that resulted. As I heard, "Life outside the garden was terrible," I was reminded that there was pain and suffering in the world long before the coronavirus; and there will be pain and suffering in the world after the coronavirus.

So what am I looking forward to?I am looking forward to the new creation! - where Godʼs dwelling-place will be with his people, and he will dwell with them. And there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.(Revelation 21:3-4)