ONE DAY, my grandmother requested I visit her in the hospital. Her life was ebbing, and she wanted to give me detailed instructions in person for her funeral service. Insisting I read most of Psalm 34, she was quite vocal about two of the verses in that song: one targeted a decision we should all make before difficult and trying times are upon us:, “No matter what happens, I will bless the Lord. His praise will remain in my mouth continually.” The second commands us, “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
These were curious choices to me as this psalm has everything to do with life and getting to know God, but seemed to have nothing really to do with death or funerals. At that time, I also wasn't sure how best to interpret “Tasting” God’s goodness.
Before I left what turned out to be our last visit, she “prophesied” the sequential order of who would pass away in our family and be reunited with her in heaven. Interestingly, she’s 100 percent correct so far in her predictions! Her final words to me were,“We’ll be so happy and have such a good time together again!” She was dying yet filled with Joy. I didn’t understand.
Many decades later, I stood holding a lifeless grand-baby. As I glanced around a large hospital suite packed with nurses, friends, and family I thought, “I have never before seen a greater outpouring of love in one place.”
At the same time, though, I felt a heavy sadness for my daughter and son-in-law. And myself. As I began to study my granddaughter’s features, I feared I would begin weeping uncontrollably at any moment and bring everyone to tears.
But I didn’t. Instead, a scripture intercepted my thoughts.
A voice whispered, “Today is holy to God. Do not grieve or be dismayed, for the joy of the LORD of angel armies is your strength.” It occurred to me that once the baby died, I stopped praying. I assumed God had answered,”No;" and that was that. No need to continue praying.
However, I’m sure it was God who spoke to me in that moment, a time of death, hopelessness, and mourning. Because, the next moment I was filled with Joy and a pervasive calm—a rare moment of physical warmth I can only describe as Peace.
How could this have happened in THIS setting?
Joy, Peace, and the sweetness of God had arrived at just the moment I needed it most. It became a celebration of life at a precious little one's death. And a new age of trusting the Lord began for me.
I have friends and family who, at this moment, are distracted and bewildered at tragedies or difficulties they are facing. They want to believe God. But their thoughts are duplicitous or worse. They try to pray, but inside they harbor secret doubts. I know this because I too am human. We are fragile. Our faith is often small. We tend to think and fear the worst.
It shouldn't surprise us, then, that in hard and hopeless seasons, God shows himself sometimes, makes his will known in powerful ways, lets the Spirit speak clearly about what he wants us to become: Joyful. How do I know? It is written, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying.” It is God's will for us in Jesus. (I Thess. 5:16-18)
Also, remember, Jesus told us,"In this world bad things will happen. But don't worry; I win." John 16:33 (from the coptic translation)
It’s appropriate to grieve when bad things happen, but not as those who have no hope. Instead recall everything God has done for us and thank him.
Fill up with Joy. Why?
Joy is love’s invincible bodyguard! Joy doesn't condemn, doesn't judge, and is not fragile. Joy provides the oxygen and warmth in which love grows, stays healthy, and endures. Joy surrounds love, and paves the highway to love.
Joy steps in when love is strained; it keeps us balanced when anticipated-love comes up short. In the presence of that Joy, Love is at its best.
Therefore, I have decided to make Joy the default setting of my heart.
No matter what happens, no matter my failures, no matter my losses, no matter my sadness, my heart returns to joy.
Joy consumes all our disappointments, all our grief, all our tragedies, our deepest depression and every fear.” The “second fruit of the Spirit” offers to us the "sweet taste" of God's delicious fruit that gives us perfect strength to endure anything . . . "No matter what happens.”
Copyright: February 2024, Gary Landerfelt, MyPericope.com
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