“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10
As we look around us at the world we live in, we see many people who are not able to live life to the full. With war, hunger, poverty, homelessness, unemployment, sickness and disease rife, the question of life to the full becomes a challenge for Christians to respond to. And even more difficult is the question how can there be joy in such circumstances?
Seeking a response to this question, I asked someone at our school in Kenya to tell me what makes our pupils and their parents joyful. Here is the reply:
‘Children have joy when they explore and make discovery with other children. When also they are congratulated for being achievers and performers. For adults, it’s an elusive thing, one feels joy when all things are right and balanced, when you have accomplished some hard task. But all in all it’s a choice one makes, to feel good about oneself or always push to achieve or move ahead.’
And there is a key point - ‘It’s a choice one makes...’. Even in the direst circumstances, with God on our side it is possible to hold joy in our hearts, as something within us, given as a gift from God.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls”. Peter 1:8-9
Let’s pray:
When darkness swirls around us, and life seems impossible, help us to hold on tight to the small flame of joy inside us, the joy that comes from knowing that your are our God and will never leave us. When food is scarce, the rent cannot be paid, school fees are impossible to find, and no hospital will treat us as we have no money, help us to cling on to you, our Lord and Saviour, who will never let us go, and will lead us through all darkness, giving us joy and hope.
All this we pray and believe in Jesus name, Amen.