The Joy That Seeks Us Through Pain

ONE beautiful couple, two families strained by loss, three times as much joy found.

Chance meetings are never really that in the Christian life; indeed, even in the lives of those who disdain God there is a remarkable flow of his Presence, yet they are blind for the seeing of it. We had a ‘chance’ meeting recently.

Two most dear people had been brought together, by God, into matrimony; two genuine disciples. In that tapestry, the weaving of two lives into one, there was an unknowable history — that only God could have engineered. Ordinary people linked extraordinarily by the design of God. Ordinary people used extraordinarily by God.

So two ordinary couples — who have extraordinary stories to share — came together. They were a mutual encouragement to each other. Their time went fast, and much ground was covered. Joy was the centrepiece of their song.

And that Joy became an anthem for one couple to shine into the lives of others.

***

The Joy that seeks us through pain is the Joy that lights our life alive.

That Joy is the Lord, himself. His Presence shining in, myriad refractions of light, not in any way defused, is so evidently pervasive we cannot help but be overcome by Joy, through joy, to joy.

The Joy that seeks us through pain takes us into himself. Joy not only seeks us with all that Love would do — a love that will not let go of us, ever — it takes us through pain into joy. Maybe it’s the only way to authentic joy — through the rites of pain.

How do we explain this surreal joy that takes over when we have otherwise been floored by a torrential storm? We ought to have been wrought to death, but somehow, through pain, we are brought to joy. It is only possible for the disciple, for they have lost their lives in order to gain their true self.

We ought to be convinced as to the role of pain. Joy seeks us through pain so we might become Joy as a direct outcome of our pain.

Jesus, himself, through the Holy Spirit, is Joy.

***

Joy emboldens translucent beings,

Those very people who have spiritual seeings.

Beaming through dawn, shining til dusk,

Joy’s light is what makes faith its must.

Irrepressible ever is Joy’s light it seems,

Through Joy it’s possible to realise dreams.

Three little letters of capacity engorged,

Oh what a destiny Joy has forged!

Power for bliss and the ease to thank,

Joy rises above the life that sank.

And this Captain of Grace is a prayer,

The virtue in struggle to dare beyond scare.

And still...

Joy through light gives hope,

Joy is the only strength to cope.

***

Joy is a virtuous laser beam that shines from within out into the lives of others.

© 2015 S. J. Wickham.

Recognition to the grand hymn, O Love That Will Not Let Me Go by George Matteson.