Joy through gritted teeth
I was at a funeral today. I’d only met the gentleman a couple of times, but he was the Dad of some people I know from church. In many ways he sounded similar to my own Dad - except this man has now passed now. And yet, because he was a Christian we know there is a hope. It’s not a wishy washy hope - it’s a cast iron certainty hope - that this man is with the Lord. It’s a hope for us too. But funerals are sad - family have been left behind, we can’t hear their voices anymore or feel the touch of those who have passed away. I wasn’t feeling sorry for this man, he is in a better place, but I felt for the family. But still there’s joy, but right now it’s a painful joy. John Piper once wrote an article about ‘Gutsy Joy’ (or something like that). For me, today was joy was gritted teeth, or when I could hold it no longer, joy through the tears. William Mensah - rests with the Lord Jesus. Amen.
