2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 ESV, Revelation 9:1-21 ESV, Psalm 137:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 30:10 ESV
Daily Verse: “The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.” (Revelation 9:12 ESV)
OUAI (3759): “Exclamation of grief.”[1]
Exclamation of grief.
Amid John’s revelation, we find today’s verse talking about troubles yet to come. How all of these things come to fruition, I don’t know. But I do know that exclamations of grief happen in life.
My first woe came when my father died, another when I lost my sister, yet another when mom died, and another when my nephew joined them in heaven. Exclamations of grief and groans of pain that don’t have words to describe them happen in life.
Understanding why pain remains such a crucial part of life challenges me. We grow from the things that make us hurt. Change occurs after we experience pain, often to avoid experiencing it again. Partnered with Jesus, our pains become transformations.
Transcendent peace.
What Christ offers, grace and mercy, fill our souls with peace. Whatever woes come our way, we know Jesus goes through them with us. In Revelation, Christ conquers the world’s evils, protects His children and rights the world’s wrongs. We can trust God.
Life’s struggles don’t end until we gain a heavenly address. Recently, we bought firewood from an 87-year-old man who had a meticulously run business. Gnarled hands helped us load the bundles in our truck. As we drove away, I watched him hobble back to his house with his cane. Physical pain plaguing his elderly body.
Whether physical or mental, everyone struggles with pain and heartache. Persevering in joy with the Lord requires leaning into Him heavenly. Faith leads the way when we put into action God’s promises, holding on for dear life sometimes.
Christ helps us move through our woes as we journey in life. When grief knocks us to our knees, God helps us back up. One day, we’ll have no more pain, but until then, Jesus gives us His peace.
[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 183) Thomas Nelson
