“Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.”
Hosea 3:5

---

As much as I don’t want to dwell on it, living here on Earth comes with hurt, pain, and trouble. We have friends who are terminally ill and know families whose relationships are stuck and seemingly irreparable. Then, there are the current wars and political realities that seem out of control to us. 

These desperate situations can cause us to come trembling and pleading to Jesus. Like the Israelites in today’s verse, we, too, are seeking a move of God, aren’t we? Maybe we even long for the restoration of the world to its original design—full of hope and peace and without pain. 

No matter how dark the days may seem, we can stay expectant for His return and the changes that will come when that happens! It is possible to find hope and joy when we stay rooted in Scripture, and we can be reminded that there are actually good (and even great) days ahead—when we come face-to-face with Jesus! 

Feeling stuck today with bad habits or patterns of sin? There is a promise in Philippians 1:6 that says: “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God, who started this great work in you, would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears” (The Message).

Feeling like you are out of place, and don’t fit in perfectly here in this world? We are reminded in Philippians 3:20: “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).

Frustrated by war, injustice, and seemingly irreconcilable confusion around us? God promises that He knows what is happening and is still in control in Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

We are instructed to eagerly and faithfully watch and wait for Christ’s return, and the Bible helps us do that. Be encouraged and stay hopeful! 

 Next Steps

• Talk with a friend or your group about the things you look forward to Christ changing when returns.
• Look up and memorize scriptures about Christ’s return that give you peace in times of hardship.