My daughter got in trouble tonight for yelling at her brother in the middle of bedtime devotion.

We had a little discussion, and then I told her to get into bed while I tucked in Ezra. Even though we talked it out and I had assured her of forgiveness, I could hear her weeping great dramatic sobs as I sang Ezra “Joy to the World” and gave him his good night cuddle.

Part of this drama, I knew, was because it’s Thursday night. And Thursday night around here is never pretty, because Campbell is dog-tired by Thursday night. When she gets tired, well, she’s like me: over-emotional and overwhelmed. Really, the only thing people like Campbell and I can do at this point is to tuck ourselves into bed and wait for morning.

But the other source of all this emotion is because Campbell has a tender conscience. Since she was very small, getting her to recognize her sin and to apologize is usually simple. Convincing her that all is forgiven and that she can move forward is sometimes a challenge.

After Ezra was tucked in, I made my way to Campbell’s room, where sobs and muffled groans and sad shudders were still coming from a big lump of blankets on Campbell’s bed. When I pulled back the comforter to reveal her matted hair and flushed face, I assured her, “Campbell it’s okay. I know you are sorry, and you are forgiven.”

To which she replied with renewed sobs, “I’m just not meant for this world, Mom.”

I knew exactly what she meant. I totally related. There are times when this life feels so terribly wrong. When I’m battling sin, disappointed with myself, or haunted by my mistakes, I’m ready to crawl out of my skin. When I hear more bad news, see those I love hurt, and watch the news, I’m terrified and I want out. As the world erupts in earthquakes and wars and famines and hate and riots on a regular basis, the world feels so foreign and scary to me.

This bedtime moment was such a wonderful opportunity to gather my daughter up in my arms and tell her that I totally agreed. We’re not meant for this world.

I’ve been thinking about this fact a lot lately, because it gives me comfort. In the midst of pain and frustration, in the midst of tragedy and defeat, it is the explanation. It is a truth as solid and firm as can be. This world ain’t it, my friend. Things here don’t make sense, because this world is a ruined place. It’s broken beyond repair. Its guarantees are pain and heartbreak and death. Jesus confirmed this when he walked on earth and said, “In the world you will have trouble.”

He told us where we do belong: heaven. A free gift through faith in him as Savior. This world ain’t it. Heaven is. All of this around us, everything that feels so wrong and foreign, is not our home.  All the times we cry out “I’m just not meant for this world,” we are speaking the truth. We are meant for heaven.

So while we walk on earth, while we are down here waiting for Jesus to come, don’t let your hearts be troubled. Don’t lose hope. This is all temporary, a short 70-80 year trip in the span of eternity. This isn’t all there is for us. We are meant for heaven, and when we get there, it’ll feel so right.