When Joy is Not Dependent on Happy

We all go through low valleys and high mountains in different stages of our lives. Traveling the high mountains, where the sun is bright and the air is crisp and clean, usually means we are in the happy times, highlighted by successes and accomplishments. Traveling the low valleys, dark and damp, usually means we are experiencing tragic things, like the loss of a loved one or a rough financial season, etc. For most people the high mountains are happy times and the low valleys are unhappy times. But is it possible to have a joy in our hearts which cannot be dissipated even in the low, dark valleys? I say yes, we just need to know why.

In my life trajectory, I experienced a handful of dark valleys with potential of throwing me off a cliff into an abyss of depression with possibly no return. One specific dark valley I traversed was both unexpected and painful beyond anything I ever experienced. I hung onto the edge of the cliff for dear life, but I did get tired and I did get tempted to let go and be done with it all. However, I had a Hope inside of me. And this Hope made me hold onto Faith. And this Faith gave me Joy in the midst of pitch blackness. I was not happy about the situation and will never derive any happiness from looking back and thinking about the events that unfolded. But I had, and still have, within me the unspeakable joy of 1 Peter 1:8,

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

There is absolutely nothing on this earth or in heaven that can fill your heart even on the darkest of days like God Himself can. I think it helps He is our Maker. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that He made everything beautiful in its time and that He put eternity in man’s heart. We have come from Him and will go to Him when we are done with our travels on this amazing place we call earth.

So, considering the bigger picture, my dark valleys are no comparison to the eternity that I hold inside. I will not let the dark valleys that surround me dim the light of this planted eternity within me.

Hold on to the Hope which is holding to the Faith which is in turn being pulled up by this Joy unspeakable, because you still have eternity within you to display to the world around you. In heaven no tear ever goes unnoticed.

“He will wipe away every tear…” Revelation 21:4

💖