“Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.”
Picture the greatest moment of joy in your life. Are you still experiencing that level of joy? Your team wins the big game. Elation and joy hit you…at least for a while or until the next loss. It might have been at your wedding. That lasted until the first big fight. It may return but only until it leaves again. Happiness and joy from an earthly source can be very good. It can be a beautiful reflection of the eternal joy found only in God. However all it can ever be is a reflection. The day my wife died I took my children to Atlanta to get away. The first day there we went to a movie. A comedy and we laughed hard. However none we all still had a deep seated sorrow in our soul as well. Laughter and rejoicing based on earthly experiences pale in comparison to what God offers and Jesus modeled. In every circumstance Jesus was walking in the joy of His Father’s presence. Think about that. The “Man of Sorrows” was always filled to overflowing with the Joy of His Father. When He wept at Lazarus’ tomb He was no less filled with the joy of His Father. He knew the full story in context. Without the deep abiding presence of the Holy Spirit rejoicing can be stolen at any moment by this fallen world. Learning to live in pain filled with the joy of His knowledge and presence is a high calling but it is our calling indeed. If that seems impossible it means we have an incorrect understanding of God’s joy or false picture of God Himself. Today allow the abiding Spirit of God to fill you with His joy in all circumstances. #BeTheEdge
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
