Tears & Joy

Immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy. - 2 Cor 6 v 10 (Mess)

Paul tells the Corinthian church that as followers of Jesus people are watching them. How they react to hard, painful, life threatening times will be watched and judged by the inquisitive crowd. (v4). He suggests our validation as disciples of Jesus is found in the details of our lives.

So, as followers of Jesus, when we find life so hard that we are almost drowning in our own tears and we are struggling for breath we have joy.

Not that we just ignore the situation, pretend that it is not there or put on a happy mask. But that we have encountered an eternal saviour. Our hopelessness has been replaced with hope. We have a comforter here and now and eternal bliss in the life to come with Jesus.

Does it make the pain and tears unreal no but this Jesus engulfed life picks us up and provides a new vantage point from which to view our circumstances.

Every single minute we have in this life is an opportunity to savour the most incredible gift that could have ever come our way. A gift that will not fade in time but is active for eternity.

Weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning. - Psalm 30 v 5