The Lord gave this to me in several mind pictures~

An often asked question that bothers me is, "If God is so good, why does he allow so much pain and suffering in our world?"  Today, writing about JOY, I found an answer.

As humans I think we couldn't experience JOY unless we had also experienced suffering, despair, losses or pain.  How can these four negatives be transformed by a sudden blaze of unexpected JOY?

"Suffering, despair, losses, pain" are bruises that occur in all human experience.  They may or may not dominate our lives, but they will sneak into our minds like "little foxes that come to spoil the grapes"* - BUT JOY! That's another thing!  It's a healing balm from heaven above.  It's hard to describe, being unquantifiable, unexpected, a gorgeous gift from GOD.  It is like a perfect diamond, resting in a box lined with black velvet.

When we experience JOY we forget the pressures that created it deep in the bowels of our lives.  We receive Joy like a beautiful woman receives a precious ring from her lover.  JOY becomes  a covenant promise of an impending wedding.  Suddenly we know in our hearts "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!" and JOY will nullify all our tears.

* Song of Solomon 2:15