Eternal Joy
I recently visited Oklahoma to support my daughter Ari who was playing Margo in Bright Star the musical. While I was there, I sat in a chair my dad had sat in five years earlier. We rented the same Airbnb from a previous trip to watch my daughter Natalya perform as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the professional theatre. Sitting in that chair, I imagined my dad. I imagined what he would say to me. I prayed and asked God what I needed to learn.
As I prayed, I noticed the couch facing me and saw a pillow with the word “joy” on the front. I considered what brings me joy and what brings God joy. I listed all verses about joy in the Bible.
There are so many references to singing for joy or shouting for joy.
This verse specifically touches me: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” John 16:22
I then imagined sitting across from my dad. In that moment I heard him remind me of this eternal promise that we will see each other again. I imagined holding his hand knowing that our life is brief like a candle flame, a flower, a shooting star.
This house would hold nothing but despair for me without Christ. Instead, I know love is eternal and nothing will take that joy away.
“Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
