Joy Will Come

Joy Will Come

This is for all of us who set up a life we thought would live out and validate the convictions of Christ's love, grace, life, freedom, healing and goodness we had come to place our hope in. And then it didn't play out the way we thought it would. Our own failure, or stuff that just came out of left field ran like a brush fire through the world we naively thought was unharmable. 

At first we sit devastated amid the rubble...But God... Someone told me recently the value, vindication of trusting God is not proven or disproven in any action, revelation, accolade, advancement or personal crisis. It is not invalidated in career setback or even the deterioration of the strengths we thought we'd always carry. The vindication and validation is found in what God does next, as we trust Him in the daily playing out of this new reality. 

Then you discover there is really no other human experience on this fallen orb. Everyone is gamely, at some point, trying to find their way in the aftermath of our own disillusionment. In fact, as another friend told me, such sadness, confusion, set-back and loss is your very validating event-giving you permission to influence even more than you ever imagined. And joy will come...one of these mornings. For He knows right where you are, and He adores you more than 10 million yet unnamed galaxies.

22 comments (Add your own)

1. Rebekah Grace wrote:
Sigh. Thank you.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 6:30 AM

2. John Lynch wrote:
Rebekah-(Sigh almost identical to yours)...an honor

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 6:36 AM

3. Melissa McMechan wrote:
Loved this blog today. Words of comfort and encouragement for sure!

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 6:43 AM

4. John Lynch wrote:
So glad it was comfort and encouragement, my friend Melissa.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 6:46 AM

5. Sisterlisa wrote:
"Then you discover there is really no other human experience on this fallen orb. Everyone is gamely, at some point, trying to find their way in the aftermath of our own disillusionment."

Much like going through any traumatic event, we go through shock, confusion, trauma etc. Just trying to survive and make our way through the mess. And so we walk by faith...trusting that God knows what he's doing and will take care of everyone.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 6:54 AM

6. Joe muller wrote:
Good word, just what I neede to hear today

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 7:23 AM

7. Mark Munsey wrote:
John - I love your heart and your writing. I'm with you in hoping this escapes the Red Pen.

As I read your words and look back at the page, I know what you've said is true - I've said it myself, and if asked do I believe it I'd unhesitatingly reply "Yes!" But there's still this sense of being on the outside looking in for me about this. (Do I sound as much like the weary soul who just stumbled into The Room of Grace and proclaimed, "All right, I'm not fine! Thanks for asking!" as I think I do?)

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 7:27 AM

8. Julia Campbell wrote:
Breath of air in a weary time.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 7:30 AM

9. John Lynch wrote:
Mark-you sound like you are standing right next to me, my friend. :)

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 8:02 AM

10. John Lynch wrote:
Julia-so grateful.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 8:02 AM

11. Janna Wright wrote:
This is where I want to pause and rest awhile . . . "The vindication and validation is found in what God does next, as we trust Him in the daily playing out of this new reality."

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 9:08 AM

12. Clay wrote:
Good stuff to chew on. Thank you my friend. So glad I was introduced to you three amigos. God uses you to help me take the next steps from biblical standards to where the rubber meets the road. That's an area I struggle in, and you guys are used along the way. Of the handful of key people God has.put in my life, you are available -- and used regularly. I guess what I'm tryin' to say is Ya'll's intullekt and n-cite rilly heulps. Tank u.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 10:35 AM

13. Don wrote:
"The vindication and validation is found in what God does next, as we trust Him in the daily playing out of this new reality."

This is exactly where I'm at today, John (and really for the past several weeks). Waiting on "what God does next" has been a real challenge. Thanks for offering some much needed perspective. Nice to know I'm not the only one who struggles with this reality.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 11:12 AM

14. Teresa wrote:
Truer words were never spoken. Beautiful encouragement, John. I'm sharing this on my FB page.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 12:36 PM

15. Tim Gifford wrote:
Thanks once again John. It's been so cool to dive into this true-faced way of thinking and living this last year. For me, it's such a slow process. I feel like my mind is being renewed, but slowly. I feel that I've been enjoying God more, in small ways, as I've been trusting his goodness than I did when it was up to me to be relate to him in self-effort. I'm pretty tired so, I'm not sure if this a whole lot of sense, but just wanted to say thanks to you and the 3 amigos (now four?) :)

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 5:00 PM

16. Dan wrote:
I too stumble into the Room of Grace, tired, weary and stressed out from work. I walk across the room past others that appear to be "fine". and sit down in the corner table in the Cafe'. As I am sipping my Capaccio, wondering what the heck now, I noticed a white piece of paper lying on the floor. I pick it up and turn it over - it reads "Joy will come". I look around the room and I see John Lynch standing in the doorway. He gives me a reassuring nod and smile.. Somehow, I feel I can now make through the rest of the day. The message was passed through him from God.

Wed, October 10, 2012 @ 9:14 PM

17. Colleen Schumer wrote:
Sigh! It's as if our Dad gave this to you for us. I am praying this morning is the morning Joy will come. Thankful for the little 'joys' but hopeful for fullness of Joy......

Tue, October 16, 2012 @ 1:55 AM

18. Jim Messenger wrote:
Thank you for such a nice comment. For me personally, I have been in destructive mode since 1986 (I'm 59) & I live in a foreign land and have been absent of any "real" fellowship since God-knows-when. I can't even spell the word. So, skipping the boo-hoo, it is a breath of fresh air to live in the "Room of Grace" and to be bated with the idea that God can bless us despite the years and years and years of every kind of human deprivation, degradation, loss, misery and human failure - ad infinitum- emblematic to the human experience. Suffice it to say, your words come to me as a "spark of hope" that maybe - just maybe - just maybe- 3 times for emphasis - this Jesus does give us the goods after all which ultimately gives purpose to our lives and glorifies DIVINE love. I'm holding on with torn-up nails and a heart that has been smashed to smithereeeeeens in hope that what you say might just become one helluva reality that blows the doors of Christian wanna-be-ism into the real thing! Looking for miracles here and thanking you for being the perceptive "where's the beef" segment of the Christian brotherhood that makes a //// of a difference in this world...! Let's get it on gang...

Sat, October 20, 2012 @ 7:58 AM

19. Jim Messenger wrote:
Thank you for such a nice comment. For me personally, I have been in destructive mode since 1986 (I'm 59) & I live in a foreign land and have been absent of any "real" fellowship since God-knows-when. I can't even spell the word. So, skipping the boo-hoo, it is a breath of fresh air to live in the "Room of Grace" and to be bated with the idea that God can bless us despite the years and years and years of every kind of human deprivation, degradation, loss, misery and human failure - ad infinitum- emblematic to the human experience. Suffice it to say, your words come to me as a "spark of hope" that maybe - just maybe - just maybe- 3 times for emphasis - this Jesus does give us the goods after all which ultimately gives purpose to our lives and glorifies DIVINE love. I'm holding on with torn-up nails and a heart that has been smashed to smithereeeeeens in hope that what you say might just become one helluva reality that blows the doors of Christian wanna-be-ism into the real thing! Looking for miracles here and thanking you for being the perceptive "where's the beef" segment of the Christian brotherhood that makes a //// of a difference in this world...! Let's get it on gang...

Sat, October 20, 2012 @ 7:59 AM

20. Pedeleon@gmail.com wrote:
Oh, thank you. Still reeling from my husband's sudden death one year ago and finding myself in just such a place of resting near to Father, waiting for the joy to return and trusting that He still has a purpose for my life.

Fri, October 26, 2012 @ 3:48 PM

21. Jim wrote:
Trusting God in the daily. Why is this so tough to do? Why is it so much easier to meditate on past failures (both near and distant) and slip into despair about the future I can’t see?

Thu, November 15, 2012 @ 7:20 AM

22. Zeal wrote:
Thinnikg like that shows an expert at work

Mon, April 22, 2013 @ 2:54 AM

Add a New Comment

Enter the code you see below:
code
 

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.

Topics