theme of the week

a couple of nights ago, i was reading a passage in the devotional, "streams in the desert." i was just flipping through and came upon a story about sorrow meeting joy.

the very next morning when i went online, waiting in my inbox was a message a friend had sent me which included the lyrics to a song "when joy and sorrow meet" by avalon:

There’s a place of quiet stillness
‘tween the light and shadows reach
Where the hurting and the hopeless seek everlasting peace
Words of men and songs of angels whisper comfort bittersweet
Mending grief and life eternal where joy and sorrow meet
There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet
Where joy and sorrow meet
There’s a place the lost surrender and the weary will retreat
Full of grace and mercy tender in times of unbelief
For the wounded there is healing, strength is given to the weak
Broken hearts find love redeeming where joy and sorrow meet
There’s a place of thirst and hunger where the roots of faith grow deep
And there is rain and rolling thunder when the road is rough and steep
There is hope in desperation there is victory in defeat
At the cross of restoration where joy and sorrow meet

later, in the car, i hear a song that included "joy" and "sorrow" in it's lyrics.

my sister then left the following comment on my previous blog entry:

Psalm 126:5-6 reads, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."

The NIV Life Application Bible commentary says, "God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding. Forests burn down and are able to grow back. Broken bones heal. Even grief is not a permanent condition. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your time of grief will end and that you will find joy."

another friend also shared with me the same exact verse, the same day.

i'm taking this as a not-so-subtle hint from You Know Who.