Today’s Verse

Job 7:1-4

Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery. Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn. (NLT)

My wife and I watch multiple movies a week. We love it! Recently, we watched a few Robin Williams movies—I had mostly stuck to comedies like Hook, Flubber, and Jumanji and avoided the poignant and “sad” options.

I’d seen bits and pieces of Patch Adams but we ended up watching it in full a couple weeks ago. In the opening scenes of the movie, Patch checks himself into a mental health facility due to suicidal thoughts. Later Patch would be the one to bring laughter and hope to those around him, often those in the darkest of circumstances.

In my life humor has been my default response, especially when faced with immense sadness or bouts of depression. As you likely know Robin Williams, took his own life. What appeared in film after film as a deep sense of joy was likely a mask of happiness.

The Bible speaks to this human experience of joy and suffering. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, we read about the cyclical nature of life, including times of joy and sorrow. While joy is a long term mentality, happiness is a fleeting feeling that often acts as a mask for underlying pain.

Jesus himself experienced both joy and sorrow during His time on earth. In John 16:20-22, He tells His disciples that they will experience sorrow, but it will be followed by joy. As we navigate our own lives, let’s seek true joy. 

I find I have the most joy when I do intentional things for others. For me personally I get a ton of joy that will be present in memories and experiences my whole life because of my time serving in Students. The things I’ve learned, the boys I’ve seen become young men, trips and camps, and the weekly opportunity to show up and talk about life with them is a JOY. It’s not easy, it is MESSY, but it’s so worth it.

REFLECTION

Where do you find joy? In Romans 15:13, Paul encourages believers to trust in God, the source of hope, in order to be filled with joy and peace. How do you see hope and joy related in your own life?