Have you noticed that life can be difficult?
There is not one of us that has not faced our share of pain, heartaches, fears, rejections, betrayal, challenges or insults. We all face them at one point in time or another and thankfully, not on the same day.
There are also days of happiness – joy beyond measure. Filled with laughter. Family. Friends. Good food. Great conversations.
But something amazing happens when heartache & happiness collide or intersect in a moment of time. It is in that very moment that God shines most brightly. This morning I am reminded of something I read recently which gave this description of “Celebration”:
..when you realize that the story of your life could be told a thousand different ways, that you could tell it over and over as a tragedy, but you choose to call it an epic, that’s when you start to learn what celebration is. When what you see in front of you is so far outside of what you dreamed, but you have the belief, the boldness, the courage to call it beautiful instead of calling it wrong, that’s celebration.
(taken from “Cold Tangerines” by Shauna Niequist, page 178)
Celebration is that special moment in time when God pulls back the curtain slightly & you get a glimpse of all that was truly taking place. It is that moment in time that feels like God has clanged the cymbals His together in a musical crescendo. His love & grace & mercy & favor are all felt in that split second of time – in a rush – that is immeasurable.
Joseph knew that moment of celebration & in speaking with his brothers & father, he put it this way, “Don’t be afraid. Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now – life for many people. Easy now; you have nothing to fear.” Genesis 50: 20, 21, MSG).
Joseph experienced celebration – the coming together of all that happened in his life, revealing the plan & purposes of God in all that had occurred. None of it was for naught. All of it was for good.
His good.
His glory.
This morning my heart is full & I am humbled before my God.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTThPMWzxRs&w=560&h=315]
Today I have linked with Sharing His Beauty and What Joy Is Mine and Hear It, Use It and Inspire Me Monday and The Better Mom and The Alabaster Jar and The Modest Mom and Making Your Home Sing and Grace Laced Mondays and Playdates With God and Momma Notes .
Well said! My life IS epic. Unlike Joseph, I have not seen how the tragedies in my life have been beneficial to others. However, I have only to look at my own heart to see the transformation there.
Vickie Lutz, Noteworthy-Publishing.com
We surely are transformed in & through it all. I pray that in time, God would show you how others have been blessed as well. Thank you for visiting!
“the belief, the boldness, the courage to call it beautiful instead of calling it wrong”
You are the second person today to remind me of Joseph. We all live the dichotomy between what is and what we believe should be, a real earth and the promise of eternity. They are not two separate things.
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
I am so glad that you reminded me of Psalm 27:13! I love that verse. It is as we wait that we see His goodness in the land of the living. So glad you visited today!
That quote is so true! Thank you so much for sharing!
We can’t always see what He’s doing and in fact, most times we don’t it seems. But it’s so wonderful when you actually CAN see what He was doing behind the scenes, and you can understand the how and the why of it.
It’s those times that give you comfort in the other times, when you don’t know what He is doing but trust Him just the same. And, as Joseph said, you can always trust that He is working it out for good!
Thanks for linking up to the “Making Your Home Sing Monday” linky party! 🙂
Nan –
So very true! Remembering the things He has done gives us strength when we cannot understand what He is doing. I am so glad that you stopped by & commented. Thank you!
Have a blessed Sunday,
Joanne