In 1961 a book titled A Grief Observed hit the shelves written by the author NW Clerk. In reality NW Clerk was none other than CS Lewis and his written work later laid the foundations for the stage play, and movie, Shadowlands. The entire premise of Lewis’ A Grief Observed deals with how a person reconciles unimaginable grief, in the loss of a loved one, with the goodness of God. For Lewis this was not a work of fiction but fact. The circumstances, thoughts, opinions and even personal life were intimately tied to the loss of his beloved wife Joy. In A Grief Observed Lewis writes, “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.”
For the Christian, of whom Lewis professed to be, there seems to be a mysterious relationship between suffering and joy. Furthermore in this unique bond we discover to be identified with Jesus, and His Redemption, also brings a certain measure of pain. (Read CS Lewis’ The Problem of Pain) While we may agree, and acknowledge, that suffering is an unfortunate by-product of a fallen world this does not mean that life is meant to be lived without joy. It is at the crossroads of pain and God’s goodness we live beyond the superficial pleasure of money and personal comfort to discover lasting joy, that fills and revives the spirit within, comes only with an intimate relationship in Jesus.
St. Paul while is prison, and experiencing the suffering of a first century jail, wrote the church at Collosae of his joy,in the pain, by saying, “I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.” (Colossians 1:24 MSG)
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Grace and Peace
JOSHUA
