Joy

Be joyful always.

—1 Thessalonians 5:16

It is not always easy to be “joyful”.

This world is full of terrible things.

Bad things happen to good people every single day.

Today I am going to be a little weird in my song reference:

When you're weary, feeling small

When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)

I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

When you're down and out

When you're on the street

When evening falls so hard

I will comfort you (ooo)

I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes

And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl

Sail on by

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine

Oh, if you need a friend

I'm sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

It is not a worship song.

It is not sung by today’s artists.

But if you google the meaning behind the lyrics, you will find that Paul Simon was inspired by gospel music in some really dark times in the world.

And think on the lyrics, doesn’t God dry all of our tears?

Doesn’t He comfort us?

Isn’t He there for us, in everything we need and want?

We should be joyful, even in our sorrow, because we serve a God who cares enough to send “a cross to bridge the great divide” (yeah, that is another song reference).

We should be joyful because we are the sons and daughters of a King, a King who loves us through everything.