When the phone rang yesterday morning, I could sense that something was wrong. Unfortunately, I turned out to be right about that. My uncle passed away of a sudden heart attack.
In an instant, he was gone.
When I went over my aunt’s house to spend time with family, she and my cousins explained how the tragic events unfolded.
No one was prepared to say goodbye.
So as we gathered together, we strolled down memory lane, shared stories, and thumbed through the family photo album. Some of the pictures in it were so funny. I even came across a faded photograph of me rocking two long ponytails and a polyester dress when I was just a toddler.
The memories attached to lots of those photos made us all smile.
And when we started eating and gabbing away Daily Cup family, we ended up cracking up laughing. It was the hearty kind that makes the heart merry and is good medicine for the soul (Proverbs 17:22).
I’m so very thankful for the gift of laughter and how God gives us joy in sorrow.
Even while the family is carrying the heavy weight of loss, smiles and laughs still lit up the house yesterday, reminding us all that there is hope for better days ahead.
Perhaps you’re going through a difficult transition of some sort.
It may not be the death of a loved one, but maybe a challenging obstacle, struggle, or unpleasant reality is making life feel really hard right now.
Even so, I want to encourage you not to allow your circumstances to set the tone for your life. Instead, lean on God through every difficulty and hardship, for He is the one who gives us strength to go through.
And not only will He strengthen you, but God will bring joy and laughter in the midst of tears.
To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Nehemiah 8:10b NIV into your cup of inspiration. It says, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup, you’ll rejoice in the fact that God’s indwelling power will fill your heart with joy even in sorrowful times. Whether you feel weak, hurt, or all alone, He will comfort you and give strength.
Others may wonder why you're laughing, smiling, and continuously moving forward. They might not understand, but you'll know that it is God's grace, goodness, and faithfulness that carries you through every season.
I love the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV that says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”
It is not our power or might that gets us through.
We would be in trouble if we had to rely on our strength alone, wouldn't we?
But it is the spirit of God at work in us that makes even the heaviest load bearable and the most desolate situation hopeful.
If you need power to get through, lean on God and He'll do what Isaiah 61:3 in the King James Bible (Cambridge Edition) says: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
Now let’s pray together.
Father, the storms of life are challenging. Many times, they seem to come out of nowhere and feel so fierce and rough. On my own, I know I don’t have the power or ability to make it through. But with You on the inside and on my side, I have hope, joy, peace, and comfort right in the middle of it. Thank You for Your sustaining power, oh God, my rock and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
