Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – Choosing Jesus means accepting His invitation: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Even if we are living in a story we did not choose, let us learn to embrace the story God is writing for us. We live through suffering by seeking deep joy in Him, trusting that He will write our hard story into His own.
No one knows how much time they have left on this earth. Sometimes a diagnosis, an accident or a loss makes that question very real. This article shares how faith in Jesus helps us find joy in suffering, even in the middle of deep pain. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
His rosy cheeks and deep brown eyes were shining. He stood there with his hands fidgeting, leaning slightly forward as the familiar song rang out in the backyard: “Happy birthday to you!” Something in his bright smile and posture made it clear he knew this party was for him.
As I carefully set the cake in front of him and watched him take a breath to blow out the candles, I fought back pain and tears. Birthdays had become time markers, reminders that we may not have many more occasions like this.
Our three-year-old son, Finn, has a rare genetic disease called Hunter syndrome. Children with Hunter syndrome usually develop normally until somewhere between two and five years old, when they begin to decline physically and cognitively. They gradually lose the ability to talk, walk and eat, and most do not live to see their tenth birthday. The son we love is now playing with a death sentence hanging over him, death slowly drawing closer.
True Joy in Pain
Knowing that my son, so full of life now, will slowly fade, I wrestle with darkness and unspeakable grief. To be honest, I often choose denial. Suppressing sorrow feels like the right coping mechanism. But every hospital visit is a reminder, more painful each week, that my son’s body is not working as it should. Each time, Finn’s small body is connected to a pump and tubes to receive enzyme infusions. Therapy helps him keep his range of motion and learn as many words as possible before the disease progresses.
How I wish I could escape. This is my son’s story, and now it is mine. But instead of fearing the future, I am trying to embrace joy in the present, not joy as the world sees it, but the joy only God can provide. I don’t want to miss my time with my son because I am already grieving his coming death. I like the idea of choosing joy, even though some days it seems impossible. But my husband and I have decided to choose joy, knowing that the only way we can find joy in this situation is by choosing Jesus, entering the ups and downs of a real journey with Him. Only there can we bear the weight of sorrow while experiencing a joy deeper than any pain, especially in the sweet moments we have with Finn now.
A New Calling
Instead of denial, my husband and I are embracing our present. We have joined other Hunter syndrome families to raise awareness of the condition, and partnered with researchers who may be very close to a treatment for this terrible disease.
Because Hunter syndrome does not affect large numbers of children, research funding is limited. We sense God calling us to step out in faith from the life and work we once knew into a different story as we pursue a cure, including my husband making a short documentary about Finn’s story. With no guarantee that our son will be able to join the trials, we hope that God is writing a story much bigger than ours, one that may affect generations to come. He has met us in our darkest moments and invited us into something more.
Your hardships may look nothing like ours, yet you keep pressing on. What struggles are you facing, and how might God be inviting you to slow down and know Him more, or to step out in faith into something greater for His glory? The story is always sweeter when we trust God to weave our ups and downs into His larger plan, for us and for others.
When I slow down and savor ordinary moments, hearing his giggles, watching him play with his sisters, holding his chubby little hand as we walk the dog, I am tasting the greatest joy, one we know will someday be complete. I am learning that deep sorrow can be a catalyst for seeking satisfaction in Christ that we would otherwise miss. Jesus Himself endured the worst imaginable “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2).
When Jesus prepared His disciples for the hardships ahead, He told them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20). He did not downplay the pain, but promised something greater, purchased through pain on the cross.
He was not insulated from suffering. He Himself prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). He wept. He lamented. He suffered to the utmost. He lived in the tension of a painful story to fulfill God’s greater, final story. He knew this life is not the end. A new story was written, and is still unfolding today: a story of redemption and hope. This is our story.
Our Story, His Glory
Choosing Jesus means accepting His invitation: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Even if we are living in a story we did not choose, let us learn to embrace the story God is writing for us. We live through suffering by seeking deep joy in Him, trusting that He will write our hard story into His own.
Living Fully the Days God Gives
The question of how much time we have left is not meant to frighten us, but to help us live more wisely. Psalm 90:12 prays, “So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.” Since we do not know how long we have, we learn to treasure each day as a gift.
Today, think of something you keep putting off: a thank-you, an apology, or sharing the gospel. Don’t wait until tomorrow to do what has eternal value. However long we have, each day is an opportunity to live for God.
You may also like: 10 Bible Verses About Hope and 15 Bible Verses About Anxiety.
Prayer
Lord, we do not know how much time we have, but we know our lives are in Your hands. Teach us to number our days, to live fully for You and to find joy even in pain. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Communications Ministry – Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church
Adapted from: DesiringGod.org
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