A Father's Desire

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

My little one, Simeon, is now six months old and has had a nasty cough for the last two weeks. At times he has become quite uncomfortable as he struggles through a cough, but I have been impressed that at almost any other point he can manage a huge smile.

In fact, I remember such times with all my kids, as babies, where they would smile through sickness, and I would be impressed and glad. I have noticed though that this changes a little as they get older, becoming more likely to be frustrated and impatient with sickness (like I am).

The ability to smile through pain and discomfort is quite a mature character trait. It takes the ability to see beyond that temporary circumstance. It takes the capacity to see beyond yourself. It takes the faith to believe in someone beyond yourself. As we start to doubt, as we grow in knowledge and experience it can become more difficult to simply believe – and smile.

Just as I desire for my kids to have joy, God the Father wants our joy to be complete. That kind of joy, mature and complete, is beyond temporary happiness. It comes from knowing and trusting in Him. And that kind of faith produces joy.

My son’s simple trust in his parents means that he can express joy even when he’s feeling unwell. God’s faithfulness and love are the reasons that we can smile through difficult times.

God is blessed and impressed by when you have smiled through the hard times. When was the last time you did that? Remember and imagine God smiling back.