The World Keeps on Turning
- Angelique Wilson
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
John 16:21
When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
Every beginning has an end.
As the earth spins on its axis,
Life turns on unchanging truths.
The sower will reap,
The meek will inherit,
The last will be first,
The persecuted will rise.
Every life has its death,
but let it be said:
Every death is a door—
A contraction that whispers,
"Eternal birth."
Dusk turns to dawn,
Winter gives way to spring.
When a new day is born,
hope begins to sing.
The sharp pain, discomfort, and strife,
our wrestle through the night,
is truly the gain of Life and new Light.
The pushing, the struggle,
the heaving and screaming,
are but moments of battle
that bestow a beautiful blessing.
And all who labour—
the poor, the pure, the persecuted,
the meek and the merciful,
the mourners and makers of peace—
have lived to tell the story.
They have all wept and warred,
crying out for their Saviour,
their Lover, their Comforter,
to hold their hand
through the great birthing,
receiving this blessing
out of the gripping shade.
And on this road
each has encountered
the truth that still stands,
unchanging and unyielding:
Each battle brings victory,
Each night meets daybreak,
Each seed breaks open,
Each broken heart. Revived.
Though the journey remains uncertain,
with seemingly nothing to ascertain,
even in the darkest night
this reality remains unfailing:
The world keeps on turning,
and our hearts keep on burning,
like a lamp lighting the way.
For pain points toward a promise.
Unravelled hearts rolling on. Home.
Through every tear and trial
new strength is quietly sown.
So let it be said:
Every beginning has an end,
and every end, a beginning.
And let it be known:
One day,
you will rise with the sun
and realise the end has come.
The light will shine upon your face
as mourning turns to joy.
The weight of the night will fade away,
a gentle glow will flood and fill the void.
The waiting and warring,
the pleading and praying,
will have been worth it,
and you’ll cradle your blessing,
your baby,
in steadfast arms.
One day
your eyes will open to see:
the world never stopped turning,
your heart never ceased learning,
and dusk was merely the story.
Unfolding.
John 12:24-25
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
James 1:12
"Blessed is the man who endures trial,
for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life
which God has promised to those who love Him."
Philippians 3:10
I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings,
becoming like Him in his death.
The Meaning Behind the Poem
I wrote this poem inspired by the phrase, “the world keeps on turning,” and the quiet ache that even in the midst of hardship, life around us continues. When we face trials, it can feel overwhelming and unfair, and it’s difficult to reconcile that while we are suffering, the world keeps moving forward. Society, friends, and careers continue almost unphased, making us feel the weight of our smallness and as though our grief has gone unnoticed.
When we experience trauma or walk through grief, a small part of the heart longs for the world to pause. To take a breath. To linger in silence. To acknowledge the depth of pain we carry. I know this longing well. When I walked through some of my darkest days, frustration and sadness grew as I watched life continue around me, while grave injustices pressed upon my soul.
Shouldn’t we all be slowing down? I wondered. Making space to mourn together? Dressing ourselves in burlap, covering ourselves in ashes, tearing at our clothing—a sign of grief as old as Job and Jacob? Sitting in the garbage heap with Job’s friends, in silence, pondering the pain and suffering of our lives? Not to wallow, but to hold compassion for ourselves and the broken world around us.
It might sound selfish, but I think it’s human: to be seen, to be known, to be held. Not in a superficial, “It will be alright” way, but in a genuine, “I see your pain, and you don’t have to carry it alone” kind of way.
Yet I have also learned that while we are on this earth, no human comfort can fully fill the depth of grief we may experience. Life continues, even as we struggle, and no other human can completely satisfy the longing to be truly seen. We are created for eternity—a place free from pain and suffering, where we are fully known and can walk and commune with our Maker, delighting in His presence and bathing in His Light.
Even so, here on earth, His Spirit meets us in fragments: in whispered comfort, in blanketed peace, in the strength to endure, in the assurance that we are never alone. Reflecting on this, I stumbled across another profound truth: as long as we are alive and breathing, God is not finished with us.
Suddenly, “the world keeps on turning” takes on a new shape, if we are willing to adopt an eternal perspective. Each new day becomes a gift to be cherished, carrying both purpose and promise.
Knowing this provides strength and resilience to keep moving forward when our world seems to have fallen apart. It gives hope and comfort when our hearts feel heavy and reminds us that our lives, including every hardship, have a purpose, even when we cannot see it. Only in hindsight do we understand that God is weaving our experiences together, turning ashes into beauty, and guiding us toward the life and blessing that await in eternity.
This poem seeks to hold both truths at once: life moves forward, even in suffering, yet eternity promises a rest, a fullness, and a peace beyond comprehension. And while we remain here, enduring the difficulties of this broken world, feeling small and unseen, God knows us by name, carries our pain alongside us, and ensures that our struggles are never wasted. There are blessings yet to be discovered, and purposes to be fulfilled. If we trust Him and persevere, hardships can produce growth, strength, and ultimately, make room for something beautiful to emerge.
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