Sunday, November 19, 2006

Why?

This is a short entry . . .

My dear friend whom I wrote about previously is declining rapidly, and will likely be going on hospice care soon. As the tears run down my face, I ask "why?" Why is a man of forty-four leaving this earth much too early? Why is his bride of only three years facing the loss of her beloved husband?

Lamentations tells us that our God is faithful through every situation, even unbelievable heartache. Yet, during times of pain, we often ask "why?"

I wish I knew. I wish I could tell this man and his wife why this is happening to them. I can't.

I can only assure them--and you--that God really does love His children, and that someday, the heartache will lessen and the pain will decrease. And one day, we'll understand.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Don't Lose Your Joy

How often do we put our joy in the temporary things of this world? If we have health, if our relationships are going well, if we have a good job, if we live in the big house . . . then we find joy. So, is the opposite true? If we are ill, if our marriage is strained, if we're unemployed or live in a tiny apartment, can we not have joy?

As I've previously written, I suffer from chronic pain and often overwhelming fatigue, and just yesterday, I was convicted that I'm letting the pain steal my joy.

The question I had to ask myself--the question I ask you-- is "where does our joy really come from?" The psalmist wrote, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Our joy comes from knowing that God is with us. One of my favorite names for Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. However, not only is God with us, but He is also in us. When we accept the gift of salvation by inviting Jesus, God the Son, into our hearts, He is in us. I don't know about you, but the confidence I have that Jesus is in me brings me much joy.

So even when I feel unwell so much of the time, even when I may want to curl up in a little ball and tell the world to go away, I can find joy in my God, in knowing that I'm His beloved daughter. I can have joy in knowing that He uses me to influence and encourage others. And I can have joy knowing that, one day, these "temporary afflictions" will be no more. One day, I will feel no more pain as I bask in the light of my Savior--face to face.