My Friends, Hope and Joy
I want to introduce you to two friends of mine—Hope and Joy. They are not flesh and blood friends, but we’ve become very well acquainted over time. I met Hope early in life, but only in a cursory way. When the difficulties of life descended, our friendship became crucial; Hope was my only friend, it seemed.
My circumstances overflowed with exhausting, thankless work, and the constant presence of heartache, disappointment, and loneliness. Hope was forever directing me to Scripture and Jesus. I found that His word is different from other Christian writings. It is “fixed in the heavens” and infused with divine power, giving me perspective and uncanny strength to persevere through my difficulties. I took up a portion from Psalm 119:89-93 as my declaration and prayer: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”
Hope continually pointed to the Scriptures that revealed Who Jesus is, and kept directing me to passages that showed both His massive strength and tender compassion for us.
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15
Because the One “...who inhabits eternity…” was also tenderly attentive to the needs I barely dared to whisper, it gave me a settled peace and quiet confidence. My everyday concerns, as well as my deep sorrows, were well-known in the portals of heaven. God would act in His own time and way, there was no need to be afraid.
Hope reminded me of the truth that God was at work in these difficult circumstances. Each day He was showing me what it meant to be “...afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;...” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Hope and I spoke often about how He was doing something deep, rich, and wise in my ongoing hardships. Because that was true, Hope encouraged me to persevere in stalwart faith. He was changing me; He was purifying me like gold in a crucible. He was making me strong and resilient in ways only accomplished through the fire of affliction, and when I was tested, I would emerge as pure gold. Job 23:10
Hope continued anchoring me to Scriptures that moored me to the truth of Who He is. This “Everlasting God…the creator of the ends of the earth…” whose understanding is unsearchable, would give power and understanding to me in my harsh and disappointing circumstances. Every day, He was renewing my strength through His word, and was tenderly attentive to the weighty cares of my soul. I found a deep, quiet peace in that knowledge. Isaiah 40: 25-31
That’s when I became acquainted with Hope’s sister Joy. Joy also pointed out that because the Scripture was eternally true, I could live my life differently in light of that truth. The reality of my circumstances remained heartbreaking and brutal, but the bright light of truth glowed forever brighter above the realities on the ground.
Joy reminded me that, though darkness descended now, the light remained even as the storms I dreaded the most descended upon me. There was a greater reality than the harshness of the storm. Joy lifted my eyes through the driving rain to the glow of light above the thundering darkness. Joy said that because the light remained, despite the thick darkness now, I could stand resolutely in the driving rain and descending gloom.
Neither Hope nor Joy dismissed the reality of the darkness but rather pointed me to the truth that roared above the storm–to those unseen and eternal truths that glowed beyond the raging gloom. Joy continually encouraged me to “not lose heart” because my current afflictions were preparing me for “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…”. As a result, I had every reason to stand in resolute defiance in the driving rain with my gaze fixed upon the light above the storm. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Because Hope and Joy were my constant companions—even in ever-present heartache, disappointment, and loss, I was able to persevere through the storms I dreaded the most, and emerge with my faith stronger, and confidence in Him and His word stronger than before.
As I stood resolutely in the pounding rain, Hope and Joy gave me a song. Together we stood, singing out in brazen faith into the driving wind. As we stood then, so we stand now, singing resolutely into the storm:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say: It is well, it is well with my soul.”