In the book of Amos there is a startling saying. Amos 5:18:

“Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!
   Why would you have the day of the LORD?”

The book of Amos is a declaration of God’s judgments on mankind for their wickedness. A wickedness that everyone shared. All were guilty and the day of God’s judgments would be vast and painful.

But in the words Jesus taught us to pray, we read something else. Matthew 6:10:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Jesus teaches us to pray that His Kingdom would come.

Before Christ’s work, the coming day of the Lord was dismal and hopeless. For the saved in Christ, the coming day of the Lord is one of ultimate and absolute comfort. As seen in Revelation 7:17:

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
   and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

We can hope and pray diligently for the Lord’s return, yet at the same time pray and trust that Jesus will stay his return until all of the elect have accepted his gift of eternal life.

There is hope and encouragement in that.