I'm Coming Back For You

I watched Olivia’s mini bun bounce through the door of the dance studio. Since Covid, the mothers and fathers weren’t allowed to come in and watch anymore. So, Carli and I drove off to go pick up Liam from school, just a five-minute drive across our small town. I pulled out onto Main Street. Seeing a truck joining me on the same road, I passed through the orange barrels lined up neatly for road construction. Before I could react the truck tool a sharp right turn through the barrels and through my lane. In an explosion of white powder and toxic fumes my air bags deployed as the front of my “mom van” crumpled like tin foil into the side of the truck. In a time-warp that felt like slow-motion, I attempted to gather myself and comfort Carli.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, you are okay!”  As the airbag fumes began to dissipate, I watched as the truck backed up and sped away.

 “Where are you going?!” I screamed in disbelief.

Two gentlemen from a local bounce house rental company appeared at my door like superheroes.

“Are you okay, Miss?”

“Ah, I think so, Why did he leave?”

“Let’s get your car out of the road, can you put it in neutral?” My wrist throbbing and knees shaking, I turned the wheel as they pushed from the trunk. I pressed the break to stop onto the shoulder and watched an officer park in front of me.

As I retrieved my phone from the dash, messages and calls from friends who drove by piled up on my screen. Will was already driving my direction and assured me he would be there in a few minutes. “I’m coming! I’m two minutes away! I’ll be there soon!”

A friend offered to pick up Olivia from dance and another went to get Liam from school. I explained what I could to the young police officer who noticed me holding my wrist.

“You should go get that checked out.”

Will came to my rescue within minutes, the car was towed, and he took me to the hospital. In the coming days I was x-rayed, fitted for a wrist brace, spoke with the district attorney, employed my own attorney, fought with insurance companies, and searched for a new car.

That car wreck affected all of us in ways we weren’t prepared for. I struggled to drive without fear, Carli struggled to sleep, and Will tried to make sense of the finances, since we had just paid off the van that was now worthless. But its effects on Olivia was the most surprising. She was suddenly attached to my hip. She never wanted me to leave and when I did, she always needed a guarantee that I would pick her up. If I couldn’t stay with her, she needed to know where I was going, for how long, who would pick her up and when. Most of all, she needed me to say, “I will be back for you!” It was my word that she needed, not anyone else’s. Hearing me, her mother, promise from my lips that I would be there when she needed me gave her reassurance and trust that it was true. The uncertainty of what could happen to me when I was gone led her little mind to go to some scary places, and my word was needed.

The disciples had gone through some trauma of their own. More than my hit and run, that is for sure. Watching your teacher, friend and savior be brutally murdered on a cross, thinking everything was over and then seeing him resurrect on the third day would definitely cause some big emotions. Jesus is so gentle with his followers, patiently explaining the Scriptures, comforting them, preparing them for a time when he would have to leave again. He had come back the first time and just before Jesus’ ascension, he would reassure them that he is coming back again for them––for us.  

When Jesus tells us he is coming back we can be certain because it came straight from his mouth. Matthew 16:26-27 says, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? For the son of man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” And John in his gospel he tells us that Jesus spoke of going to prepare a place for us and then his return.

John 14:1-7, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Not only do we see the doctrine of the Trinity in this passage but, we hear from Jesus’ mouth that he will be reunited with us. We can depend on his return. It is not unusual for children to attach to a parent or a trusted adult when they have experienced something tragic. It is no wonder that after Jesus’ brutal murder and his miracle of resurrection that the disciples would be concerned about hearing that he must leave for a time.

                  This past year, I was privileged to dive deep into the book of Revelation in two different studies. One would think that I would have all the symbolism and timelines figured out, but honestly, the Holy Spirit spoke something into my soul that is far more important than knowing the when and how of his return. He taught me to long for it, to look out for him, to be ready and waiting. My soul longs to be united with my creator and my savior. In the book of the Bible that arguably has the most terrifying scenes known to man, we find the most tender, and comforting words possible. “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

                  It is easy for our finite brains to become overwhelmed by the chaos of life. Like a hit-and-run car wreck, life is full of smoke, toxic fumes, broken bones, and abandonment.  But it is also full of airbags, bounce house workers, police officers and husbands. When Will said he would “be there soon”, he was. And When Jesus said he is going to prepare a place for us and that he is “coming soon”, He will.

The Good Portion Bible Study Journaling Questions:

It is said that when Mr. Rogers would speak to children about scary situations, he would tell them to look for the helpers.

Who are some of the Helpers God sent into your life, that comforted you in scary situations? Take some time to thank God for these people.

Read Revelation 22:16-21

Who is saying “Come” and to whom are they saying “Come”?

How do we know verse 20 is Jesus talking? (Hint: look in verse 16)

Journal about a time when you needed reassurance that someone was coming back for you. Did they? How did you feel when they arrived? If they didn’t return, tell God how you feel about it.

Read Acts 1:1-11

Highlight where Jesus says he will Come.

Who is Jesus sending?

Before Jesus’ physical return, He did send us the “Counselor” which brings us as believers his very presence.

Talk about what the Holy Spirit means to you, tell Jesus about your relationship with the Holy Spirit, thank him for the counselor.

Read Matthew 28:20

Who is with us? And how long will He Be with us?

Reread John 14:1-7

How do we see the Trinity in this passage?

Have you had a “Troubled heart”?

Tell about a time when Christ’s presence healed your “troubled heart”.

In Hebrew culture during this time, a betrothed groom would leave his bride and spend months preparing a room on his father’s house. When the house was ready, the groom would return to his bride so that he could bring her to the home he has prepared for them.

How does this historical knowledge change the way you read this passage?

Take some time to tell Jesus how you long for his return. Thank him for His presence in your life through the Holy Spirit.

Come Lord Jesus, Come!