One of the most difficult parts of life is dealing with reality.

We can try to fluff up the reality of life on this earth and make it look prettier on the outside, but it still has sharp edges and a cracked foundation.

We have to deal with mental health struggles, homelessness, natural disasters, overdoses, suicide, bad accidents, natural death, and many more horrifically difficult things…and none of us are immune. It could happen to any one of us at any moment.

I cringe a little anytime I hear the phrase, “Everything is going to be okay.” when someone is dealing with a difficult situation. Realistically, none of us know how it’s going to turn out. Only God knows. We can pray. We can cry. We can yell. Our loved one could still die. We could still lose our house. The outcome most definitely may not turn out “Okay.” We can know with all our hearts that God loves us and is for us…then the bad thing could still happen. None of us make it through this life unharmed. We get beat up and broken physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Our hope has to be in Jesus. Without the hope of heaven at the end of this long, difficult life, we have nothing. This world is littered with darkness. Even the beauty in it will eventually be snuffed out. The flowers will shrivel and die. The skies will grow dark. Both humans and animals alike will all die eventually.

But God…

When Jesus returns, He will bring a new earth. There will be no more death. The beauty will return. And the best news is…everyone is invited! There is room at the table for all. Jesus is all-inclusive. No matter your past, your family line, your race, your culture, your (fill in the blank)…Jesus extends YOU an invitation to this beautiful new reality. We can only imagine the beauty.

Unfortunately, not everyone will choose it, and Jesus won’t force anyone against their will. But if you only understood the truth, you would choose Jesus.

Every.

Single.

Time.

But for now, we have to live in and deal with the “real” world. Our current reality can be hard. So hard. We can’t live with our heads in the clouds all the time. As believers in Jesus, it certainly helps to meditate on our perfect future, but eventually, we have to get our hands dirty down here on earth to minister to the hurting so that they can experience the same hope that we have.

We need to love the real, broken people right in front of us, even when it’s hard. Once you get an up-close view of their pain, their story, and why they are who they are, it will be hard not to love them. So press in. Get closer. Get curious. Love them through their sharp edges and cracked foundation. Show them Jesus in you.

It reminds me of this quote from The Velveteen Rabbit,

“Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to the people who don’t understand.”

Meet the Author

Megan grew up in rural Wisconsin, where she was always known as the quiet girl with a book in her hands. Now Megan is working on her lifelong dream of becoming the author of her very own book. Out of her own struggle with trauma and mental health, she created the Jordan Crossings Blog to empower those who are healing from trauma and educate Christians on how to minister to those who are hurting.