HARVEST. Spring 2020 | Page 24

Waiting for Home Claire Lin “At that time I will gather you; at that time, I will bring you home.” Zephaniah 3:20 (NIV) Whenever my father stayed late at the office, he would have to walk alone through a city filled with gang violence, street theft, and shootings. On those nights, my mom, my sister, and I ate together in anxious silence, worrying about all that my father would encounter on his return. As we waited by the door for his appearance, there was no peace—instead, our living room lingered with fear and unrest, because we didn’t know if he would make it back. Today we are waiting for Jesus to come back. Even though we don’t know exactly when it will be or how it will be like, we rest in the Faithful One who “[does] not change” (Malachi 3:6), trusting that He will hold fast to His promise to return for us. This world—and all its uncertainty, challenges, failures, and defeat—may seem terrifying, but we have peace because in Christ, “perfect love expels all fear” (1 John 4:18, NLT). And as I learned during one particularly hectic summer in high school when my parents dragged me away from SAT prep and into a garden overflowing with the splendid work of God, there is incomparable comfort knowing that our lives are safely kept in the hands of the great Creator of the universe. So we live, reassured that while the things of this world are temporary, we have a glorious and eternal place in heaven prepared for us. And we hope, our feet tired but our souls resting and waiting for the King to bring us home. Claire Lin is a freshman intending to concentrate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 24 Spring 2020