Lately, I feel like I am constantly walking that thin line between utter despair and overwhelming joy. Most people wouldn't think there is a line between such drastically different things, but I know there is. The only difference between the two is God. Without Him, utter despair. With Him, overwhelming joy. People mistake joy for happiness. They are not synonymous. Happiness is circumstantial, and just like our circumstances it wavers unfailingly. Joy is so much deeper. It comes from knowing that life is hard and things don't always come easy. I taste joy when I taste pain, because God promised me that the pain won't last. I taste joy when I glimpse eternity. If I never felt pain, I would never know joy.
Maybe a better analogy is standing on the edge a cliff. If I jump, despair. If I stand firm, even when I'm looking at canyons of hopelessness surrounding me, I'll stay in the joy of the Lord. The decision is mine. It's not as thoughtless as falling out of line; it's a commitment to Jesus that I'll root myself in His love and trust His goodness when there is no "goodness" to be seen.
Find rest, my soul, in God alone;
My hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62: 5-6
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