Ecclesiastes 1:8-9
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
We all feel weary at times. Often, we are not satisfied with our surroundings, our relationships, our careers, our education, our appearance. We are often not satisfied with ourselves. We are often not satisfied with society. As Christians, we tend to be acutely aware of our own personal brokenness, but also of societal brokenness. “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” muses the writer of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 1:18). In the midst of this knowledge, one of the greatest challenges we face is in finding the thing we often desire most – joy. This is especially true in the midst of a global pandemic and lockdown. How do we find joy as we are locked in our homes? As each day passes by feeling the same as the last? As hundreds of people die daily in our country? It can all feel very bleak. But as this knowledge attempts to consume us, we must never forget of the knowledge we have of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 :
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”; We will not be crushed or destroyed – God is our shield. We will not be driven to despair –God is our hope. We will not be forsaken – simply, God IS. We must always hang on to the hope our God offers. Anchor yourself in this hope – hope of a brighter tomorrow, but also of a brighter today.
But how do we find joy today? I have found personally that my joy is dependent on four key relationships - with God, with others, with creation and with myself. As imperfect people, we have imperfect relationships and therefore imperfect joy. Perhaps as we are confined to our homes, we can take time to analyse our relationships and adjust them closer to God’s ideal. And as we adjust our lives closer to God’s ideal, we will find true joy. But how can we adjust our relationships closer to God’s ideal? Spend time with God. Be kind to your neighbour. Spend time in nature. But often the trickiest relationship is the one we have with ourselves. But just know that we are all loved. We are all valued. Love your life – because it is yours. Your experiences are yours – no one else’s. So, love yourself, your family, your friends, your community, your God. But loving your life does not simply mean acceptance – it may mean adjustment. Adjustment to your relationship with others, with creation, with yourself and with God, that it may be in accordance with God’s ideal. And as you draw nearer to God, He will draw nearer to you – and your joy will overflow.
Comments