SUNDAY 9/1 THE PARADOX OF JOY
"'You have sorrow now' and 'your hearts will rejoice.' The Christian's heart often holds both. I may have sorrow in the circumstances of my life. Sorrow in the state of this broken world. Sorrow in loss & pain. But I also still have joy. Joy in Christ. Joy in His resurrection. Joy in His ultimate power over whatever brings me sorrow today.
"Jesus promised His disciples 'No one will take your joy from you.' May we allow that truth to sink deep into our souls. In His resurrection, Christ has defeated the powers that bring . us pain & suffering. In the end, Jesus will remove all tears. Because of that, we can rejoice. Our hearts have joy--a joy that can't be taken away by anguish or grief.
"If joy seems difficult to find right now, don't bother looking for it at the neighborhood convenience store. Don't seek it in shiny new possessions or in self-help resolutions. Through the gift of faith in Christ, you receive the gift of joy. Although disappointments & despair may be sitting (or even camping out!) on the sofa of your heart, joy is always right there too." --Sharla Fritz, The Lutheran Witness, Aug 2019
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