Eternity is a beautiful concept, and the hope for a better future than life here on earth right now, in Heaven, is equally beautiful, but a lot of people wonder why this is good news for them now in their suffering.
In the gospels it isn't like Jesus says "follow me, and it'll be all rainbows and butterflies." He acknowledges that there will be trouble for us in this world. We will be mourning now but that will later be turned into dancing. We will suffer hardships and persecution for following Jesus. BUT. Jesus promises that he will be with us until the very end of the age. God is close to the brokenhearted. He promises to the pure of heart that they will see Him. Jesus preached that the kingdom of God is near, and that it is within us. Among many other things he said.
Yes, there is suffering, there is brokenness, there are things that make us ask where God is in all of this. But, the Creator of the Universe is with us all the time, through everything we go through, and He knows us intimately and knows our needs. He's a mighty God who loves us beyond all reason and comprehension. He walks with us, ahead of us, and behind us. And He will never forsake us. I think that's pretty good news.
Isaiah 49:13-16:
Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
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