Our Daily Bread Teens EditionSample

Read Revelation 21:1–7

1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

Unseen Tears

While I am writing this, more than 11 million Syrians have fled their homes since the start of the civil war in 2011. Inside the country, 13.5 million people need urgent aid. The whole country continues to be ravaged by war.

We’re surrounded by terrible calamities like this, full of pain and sadness. It’s easy to feel like this world is a complete mess. Maybe you feel like that with your own life—the mess fills your eyes with frustrated and tired tears that nobody will ever see.

But Jesus sees all our tears and offers compassion and comfort when we hit rock bottom (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). He also promises a future where sin won’t exist anymore—and neither will pain or sadness. In that day and in that place, “He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

So stay strong in your troubles today: the God who promises freedom from tears in the future can fully comfort us in our tears now. —BC

God knows your pain, and your tears matter to Him.

Talk to God

Dear Father, thank You for caring about my hurts and pains. Thank You for the promise of a future without tears and a life with You forever. Amen.

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