And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thess. 4:17)
Expanded Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:17
There are not many people in the world who do not mind waiting. Even those who are generally considered patient can identify themselves as impatient. On a number of occasions people have told me that I am a very patient person, yet one of the things I strive to avoid most are lines! Short or long, I certainly do mind waiting.
For some, a lifetime might seem like a long time. It is filled with ups and downs, but probably most would agree the downs always seem to take too long. Difficult seasons just seem to linger on and on. Sometimes people wonder if a difficult season will ever end, if there is even a light at the end of the tunnel, a ray of hope they are working towards. Though life’s challenges may be long, they are only temporary. They may seem long, but they are nothing compared to how much time is left for the rest of eternity. Eternity just keeps going. It never ends.
Forever is a very long time. Forever, God’s people will sing praises. Forever, God’s people will be free from sickness, sin, and suffering. For the rest of eternity, the children of God will have the pleasure of being in his presence—the presence of the One who is perfectly good, loving, all-powerful, and all-knowing.
Stand firm and wait patiently, despite life’s difficulties.
Tyler Hardy is a husband, pastor, substitute teacher, and camp volunteer. He enjoys writing, hiking, and perhaps most of all, cooking a good pizza.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
