JOY COMES AFTER PAIN

Psalm 126:5,6 reads as follows, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves (of grain) with him."  Yes, there is pain in the world, but, never doubt, joy does follow.


The study: "God's ability to restore life is beyond our understanding.  Forests burn down and are able to grow back.  Broken bones heal.  Even grief is not a permanent condition.  Our tears can be seeds that grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of tragedy.  When burdened  by sorrow, know that your times of grief will end and that you will again find joy.  We must be patient as we wait.  God's great harvest of joy is coming!"


Life does bring pain.  And unfortunately, pain is often remembered longer than the joy that follows, strangely enough. No one wants pain, but it seems to be part of life itself.  I know of no one on this earth who has not suffered from some kind of pain.  If there does exist someone like this, they will certainly make it into Ripley's Believe It Or Not.


Jerry, my husband, and I have been married over 60 years and we have suffered pain and sorrow; and we have been given joy in return after every moment of sorrow. We have suffered through heart attacks, cancer, deaths of those we love, and hardest of all to go through--the pain of addictions.  Our eldest daughter suffered from alcoholism and until age 40 when she recognized that she needed help, she had already lost her family and friends.  When she got help for herself, she brought her own family much joy, and that joy was also brought to her mom and dad.


We recently had a grandchild that suffered from heroin addiction, but at age 28 is now making great decisions, has a job, and is looking forward to a healthy future and the joy that being healthy brings.  I can't really explain how grateful and joyful those who know him have become!


There is no end to the pain of suffering through addiction until the addict looks forward to the future joy that will follow. No one chooses to become addicted, and far too many addictions start when the person is not yet mature enough to truly understand the danger of drugs and any weaknesses that may exist naturally in his or her own personality. It brings my heart much pain when I see young people give in to anything that could create the start of addiction.


I must close with a prayer, "Dear heavenly Father, Bring to the world the strength and desire to bring the problems of addiction to an end.  And help those families who are suffering through the problems of addiction to have hope right now.  Bring them the answers that they need to help their addict and to help themselves through the trial.  Thank you for your Spirit that helps us through our pain and brings us to the joy you promise. AMEN"


Joy Comes In the Morning! Don't forget!


Jo in MN