Joy Comes After Sorrow

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13-14).

One life lesson Apostle Paul made sure to share with us was to move ahead in life. Even if he had to press through difficult times and disappointments, he emphasized the importance of looking ahead and not behind. C.S. Lewis said, "Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars; you have to let go at some point to move forward." As a disciple of Christ, you are to reach for the prize of your high calling in God. You may not know what that looks like, but it's crucial to start moving toward it.

Trials of our faith, devastating losses, and gut-level pain are a sure thing in this life. Every human being experiences them. In our pain, we may tend to forget that others are hurting too. The relationships you make with people are part of His high calling on your life. The most enriching relationship is that of Jesus Christ. Our self-focus can isolate us from others and lock us down in self-pity, which blocks us from the blessings God has planned for us.

The end game of remaining in pain is the banishment of long-lasting contentment in life. Anchoring yourself to morose attitudes and thought patterns rob you from building genuine relationships with others. Paul had a secret that he shared with us. He knew how to be content in situations of plenty and lack. Apostle Paul could do all things through Christ who strengthened Him. Jesus is the way maker, and through Him, we can forget the past and move through any darkness toward the light. Weeping comes in our night seasons, but the morning is always ahead to bring us joy.