When I was 4 years old, I was part of a program at my church that taught preschoolers the basics of the Bible. We also memorized some pretty long verses, which are still stuck in my head to this day.  My favourite verse I had memorized that year was John 14:2-3.  One of my friends from the program was a girl named Marie, and she was battling cancer. As a kid, I didn’t understand why she couldn’t always make Tuesday mornings every week. We just knew she wasn’t feeling well.  The days she was able to come, the anticipation of seeing her always made me so excited!  My friend Marie sadly lost her battle with cancer a year later. She had also memorized John 14:2-3. After she passed away, I remember my parents telling me her parents said Marie wasn’t scared to die. She knew God was preparing a place for her in Heaven and she was going to be with Jesus - just like the verse I learned had said.  Marie recited John 14:2-3 to her parents several times in her hospital room. She had hope, knowing she was going to be with Jesus! 

I think that is why this verse is extra special for me to this day.  When Jesus was speaking to the disciples in this passage, it was meant to be a comfort to them.  He was letting them know of what is to come one day, when he will come back to bring us fully into His presence again forever.  This is the hope we hold on to this season – not only looking back to when Jesus came to earth as a baby, but also the hope we have for the future! One day we will be with Him forever! 

Life can be full of uncertainties: marriage problems, sickness, friendship struggles, financial insecurity, etc. But let’s always remember we can be certain that Jesus is a hope we can hold on to. While we are on this earth, let’s live knowing we have hope in a God that loves us no matter what and is always with us. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:1.