Joy and Suffering

Happy Wednesday, Everyone. 😊 Joy and suffering are not feelings we generally think of as happening in the same space. But here we are. Paul says that even when we’re surrounded by troubles and suffering, we continue to shout our praise to God. 

For a long time, this was a foreign concept to me. I couldn’t understand how two such different emotions could exist at the same time. I caught glimpses here and there, but it really came home to me when my Dad went Home to be with Jesus. My Dad and I were close – we shared many of the same personality traits – quirky sense of humor and all. One Sunday morning while visiting him, I was prompted to give him permission to go to Jesus. Two hours later I got the dreaded phone call. I cannot ever remember feeling such profound sorrow and extreme joy in the same moment. Even though the suffering was there – I was going to miss him terribly – I was so filled with joy that he was with Jesus, running and pain-free.

I think in many of our life experiences, joy and suffering are inextricably linked. I felt that again late last week when a dear family member passed into the waiting arms of Jesus. Joy for him in the midst of suffering by all those he left behind.

But in our passage for this week, Paul doesn’t stop there. He tells us that as we endure suffering, that builds our character, and that character produces hope. This seems to me to be a full circle – the joy that we have in the midst of suffering leads to the hope of our faith. It all leads to Jesus and what He has done for us through the cross and resurrection.

How have you experienced joy and sorrow in the same space? Was it easy to accept that or did it feel wrong to be joyful while in the midst of suffering and sorrow? Why do you think God made us to be able to experience both at the same time?

Blessings and Love, 😊 Ceri