Joy in the Journey

A few days ago NASA launched a space vehicle on a journey to Jupiter. It will take 5 years to get there and it is supposed to survey the planet and discover new evidence of how the universe began. we spent a lot of money, that we didn't have, to do that.

Also a few days ago our Congress in the USA finally stopped bickering long enough to pass a bill that enables our government to keep on spending for another year and a half. Their political gamesmanship brought us to the brink of financial disaster and that disaster may overtake us yet. One of the 3 credit rating agencies has downgraded US credit for the first time, not a lot you understand but any downgrade is... well, bad. That's not very joyful.

The stock market is in freefall this morning - down 350 or so the last time I looked and who knows where it will stop. As you watch, with disbelief, your 401K or IRA melt before your eyes you may ask; Where's the joy in that?

Yesterday we had a picnic at our lake and we could see that there isn't much water left in it. The authorities tell us that there is one year's worth of water left in the lake if we conserve. There has been little rain in recent months and much of Texas is in an extreme drouth status. Can we indeed find joy in that?


Consider this; A godly woman, who only 3 weeks ago was helping with VBS and planning a cruise for the end of this month, today lies in a hospital bed, riddled with cancer and drugged with morphine to ease the pain. Today she may be released to hospice, and perhaps within days she will be in heaven, in the presence of God. She will have joy when that day arrives but we will have sorrow for a while because we will have lost the presence of a dear friend.  

The writer in the book of James, chapter 1, verse 2 says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you enounter various trials, because the testing of your faith produces endurance (my translation for today). That endurance is what keeps us going through the storms of life. We may not yet face the severe tests that the early disciples faced and we do not know the future, but we do know the one who does know the future. There truly is joy in the journey if we keep our eyes on, and our faith in, our creator and redeemer, Jesus Christ.