The end is always the beginning.

I hate when things come to an end. I really do.

I was reading in my devotions today about the end of Jesus' ministry on the earth. I can't imagine being a disciple--watching Jesus leave this earth to return to His place in heaven. It must have felt like the bittersweet end to an amazing adventure. The disciples had left everything behind to follow Jesus. With Jesus, they had begun completely new lives; they had given up everything they had known. Through the years of Jesus' ministry, they saw and did spectacular, miraculous things. If I were a disciple, I'm sure I would be confused to see Jesus leaving. I would probably wonder how my life could continue without Him beside me. It's hard to transition from exciting times in our lives. Imagine transitioning from having a close bond with God...in the flesh. No wonder the disciples stood dumbfounded, staring into the sky, wondering what to do with themselves. Wouldn't you?

But what I love about God is that the end is always the beginning of something new. Jesus knew His leaving would be difficult, so even as He was ascending into Heaven, he sent two "men dressed in white" to comfort the disciples by telling them that Jesus would come back again. And God gave the disciples the Holy Spirit to empower them. God never leaves us alone. He offers us hope in all the transitions of our lives. And look what the disciples went on to do. They lived radical lives for Christ, and most of them died to glorify His name. But they wouldn't have gone on to do amazing things if they had kept staring at the sky. There is a time to move on and live out a new adventure.