One evening a few months ago, my son and I stood outside waiting for the moon to appear. It was a supermoon, as it was the closest it gets all year, and a full moon, so we knew it was going to be extra bright and beautiful.
As we stood there waiting, clouds began to roll in. I knew the moon would be covered by clouds for a bit before it would burst through and show us its wonder. I was holding my son in my arms and all of a sudden the brightness of the moon shone out from behind the clouds.
The clouds appeared to be on fire; it was amazing! In that moment, my son looked so excited and turned to me and said, “Mommy, is that Jesus coming back?! It’s so bright! Is it Him?”
I felt my heart sink as I responded that it wasn’t Jesus; it was just the supermoon coming up. My son was visibly saddened by my response, and I tried to bring joy back while talking about the moon. However, the experience impacted me.
Almost weekly, my son will ask if some light in the sky or cloud is Jesus returning. At first, I would just answer quickly with a no. But the more he asks, and the longer time goes on, I have found myself having the same excitement he does when wondering if it could actually be Jesus coming back. Seeing things through my young son’s eyes has opened mine and reminded me of the joy and excitement I used to feel as a younger follower of Jesus.
Age isn’t a factor here. Whether you are 4, 40 or 80, excitement about Jesus is possible. The Bible teaches that we are to be like little children in response to His call in our lives. That doesn't mean we are to be immature, ignorant or infantile in how we relate to Him. Rather, it means we are to have a joyful and peace-filled excitement in response to His call to follow Him and be ready for His soon return. Childlike faith is trust that is not blind, but rather built on a loving relationship.
My son knows that when I say something, I will absolutely do it because the relationship we have has proved that I love him and am trustworthy. The same is true of Jesus, and this is the kind of childlike faith we are to have in Him — one that is built on a relationship, one that is founded in knowing that Jesus loves us and has promised to return to take us to be with Him.
Jesus promises us that He will return. John 14:1–3 says, “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.”
The Bible is filled with promises and reminders that Jesus will return and that it will be soon. Rev. 22:7 says, “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
My hope is that, as you begin 2026, you will recapture your excitement in awaiting Jesus’ return. Whether you were a child or an adult when you accepted Jesus into your life, remember how you felt when you gave your life to Him. Remember the joy, the peace and the excitement of following Jesus. God has not changed, His promises remain the same and our joy should remain as well.
Now, every time my son asks me if that "thing" he sees could be Jesus coming back, I say, “You know, son, that could be Jesus coming back, because He promised that one day He will return. Our job as His followers is to remain faithful to Him until He comes again!”
Jesus is coming back soon, and that is truer today than it was yesterday.
May we all start this new year with joy and excitement as we look forward to beginning eternity walking with Jesus hand in hand.
