“If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!” 1 Corinthians 16:22

Maranatha! It is a prayer I have prayed, even more so lately. It is the word used in today’s verse and simply means, ‘Come, O Lord!’ Looking around at the world today, I find myself on edge and… dare I even say it, growing discouraged. Catching myself, I know that My Savior doesn’t WANT me to be discouraged. UGH!

I learned to swear at a very young age, and haven’t found anyone who occasionally doesn’t. Exclamations in the form of swear words usually come at a point of shock or surprise at the unexpected. Lately I have fallen victim to the problem of NOT seeing what I expect. And I’m not sure which is worse.

Growing up as a kid in the 60’s and 70’s, back in the Billy Graham days, books started coming out proclaiming prophecies of Christ’s soon and imminent return. It seems the world REALLY started going bad back then, and like a spanking, most could tell the world was due! But that was over 50 years ago! Look at it NOW!

World Culture today looks NOTHING like the class I took in High School. Evil has only increased more speedily as time marches on. If we felt like Jesus HAD to come back THEN… today my inner voice cries out “What’s taking you so long?” It gets harder to see hope. Looking both ‘up’ and ‘around’ I ask, “what do I do?

I find instruction for my discouragement in the same chapter that I find the word ‘Maranatha.’ Verses 13 and 14 summarize marching orders for me on how to live in dark, evil days… “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” Seems those words are the boots I am to march in.

Are You discouraged? Do you need some direction to take your mind off of the disappointment that Jesus isn’t here yet… where evil only grows and seems to be winning? Maybe you might want to join me by pulling on those boots and looking ‘up’ instead of ‘around!’ And pray with me… “Maranatha!”