Joy

Isaiah 35: 1-10 v 2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy.”

The wilderness and desert will be glad. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy.” With this news the, strengthen those who have tired hands, encourage those who have weak knees. Your God is coming to save you. Those who cannot speak will sing for joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.”

I remember one of my wilderness moments. I was working full time, had three children under five years old and it was March, a time when the Ontario winter was holding on for all it’s might. The ground was still frozen, and I looked at it and said to myself is anything going to grow again?  The effort of clothing my children to be able to play outside with snowsuits and boots and scarves and mittens was exhausting. At that time my children distracted me, and I just got on with the work of any mom and spring did come that year and the next winter our eldest started playing hockey and winters were never as long again. More recently my wilderness has been around loss of loved ones. The death of my mom, the day before Christmas Eve now three years ago, and the current dilemma of my mother-in-law struggling with dementia and the loss of her independence requiring long term care. Ironically my mother in laws name is Joy! Yes, finding joy at these times is hard. Which is why these words from Isaiah are so wonderful to read. Because our God promises a day when the wilderness will be glad. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy.” Just as this week I went with my husband to the tree farm to pick out a Christmas tree, and the scent of the trees in the barn filled me with joy. With the finding of a not so symmetrical tree, laughter gushed forth. Sorrow and mourning disappeared, and I was filled with joy and gladness. Slow down today and listen and look for the joy that God provides to allow relief from your wilderness moments.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for the joy that is always around the corner even in our wilderness moments. Amen.