While watching a recent broadcast of the Olympic Games, I saw a commercial that stuck with me. I think it was an advertisement for the actual Olympics, but I was so taken with the message, I’m not really sure what the commercial was for. The images and the comments were about joy. How a little goes a long way; it implied that joy is contagious. I have learned that’s true. Our family was just blessed by some joyous news and answered prayers. Like I saw in the commercial, I wanted to spread that joy – tell people I saw what happened so they could join us in this incredible joy and in offering prayers of thanksgiving. And they did. Our joy and answered prayers affected their hearts, too.
As I prepared to write this reflection with all this joy on my mind and in my heart, something else very frustrating and incredibly disappointing happened. I’m still very joyful regarding recent events yet very upset about this new (unrelated) development. I did find that joy to be contagious, but like other elements of our faith, it does not remove the burdens or hardships or losses we experience. I don’t believe it’s meant to, but joy does give us hope. It does lift us when we need it most, and it reveals God is there. The gift from God of true joy is strengthening and renewing. When we share and spread the grace of joy, we share and spread hope. The frustrations and disappointments we can’t control or avoid are not of God, so let’s not lose sight (or strength) of the joy and hope the Lord continues to show us.
When I struggle with losing that sight amidst frustrations and disappointments, I come back to this verse which has been comforting guidance for me:
Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Rom 12:12)
What a great ‘formula’ as we proceed in trust on our journeys of faith! May we all continue to spread our contagious joys and hopes with one another, so we are renewed and strengthened in God’s love and goodness.
Journeying to Grace 