I just recently sat at the side of a hospital bed with an individual who has all of their life experienced one physical complication after another. Serious surgeries where organs have been removed, and procedures that left this person with drastic limitations. One thing after another has hit this one and they are "sick and tired of being sick and tired." I have never experienced that. The chronic pain, the chronic suffering, the chronic bouts of physical limitations that lead to the battle of depression, discouragement, and a longing for release!
Chronic....On going, never finding a full release, no end in sight, or just when you think it is finally over....Chronic!
Where is there any joy in that? How can I, in reasonably good health, never much for hospitals, not aware of any physical abnormalities and find getting a head cold a point of absolute misery...How can I extend a hope of joy?
How can I offer to this dear soul the words of comfort and hope that they need in order to "feel good" when life is filled with the chronic "bad" that has plagued them for all these years?
The reality is that JOY is not mine to give. Joy is not mine to create. Joy is not within me to begin with. Joy is outside of me and comes from a source beyond me.
"If you want Joy, real joy, wonderful joy, Let Jesus come into your heart," as the old chorus goes. "Your sins He'll wash away, your night He'll turn to day, your life He'll make it over a new."
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. Psalms 5:11
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5
The angelic herald at Christ's birth shouted this statement: But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; Luke 2:10 Joy came with the coming of Christ. The ability to find contentment, rest, peace.
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:9-13
Love and joy, being loved, finding joy. This is our God we are speaking of. The One that knows that this dear one is in a hospital bed for the "umpteenth" time and is discouraged with life and the body they find themselves encased in.
This is the same God however, that endured our death so that even though our "sin-afflicted" existence should leave us trapped in a physical body that just won't respond as we would hope, we have this joy! HE is coming to redeem us, to deliver us, to free us and that existence will bring about freedom from pain, suffering, trials, and depression of mind and spirit.
But what about while we wait? What do I do now? How do I endure until that day? By finding Christ to be that daily source of joy. He is my contentment, He is my daily bread, He is my peace, my lover, my provider of grace. As I live with Him in mind my pain has a purpose. My suffering has a reason. My life is not about me, but about using the daily reminder that God has given me that I need Him! He is my joy and He is my grace. He is my confidence and He is my heart's physician.
I am nothing without Him and through Him I can do all that He asks of me. He is my cause, my reason, my hope and all my tomorrows!
"My Joy...in you," Jesus says just hours, minutes, before the cross. Real joy, wonderful joy. A life changing joy that is not based upon circumstances, but a joy that brings contentment in the midst of "real life."
Joy when life is...well, "Chronic."
