Gò0dNews for Everyone
Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice
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by Christina Edwards
ears ago, a friend I had lost contact with reached out
Why is it so easy to weep and difficult to rejoice? This
to me. We agreed to regularly pray for each other.
seems counterintuitive. Weeping always seems to be in
My friend shared that she and her husband were
surplus. But I believe there is something to be said for giving
praying to conceive. I shared that I’m praying for marriage.
all of your celebration, even if you’re running on empty.
Together, we sought after God and His blessings for us.
I’m reminded of the widow’s mite. We all know the
When she had a miscarriage, my heart broke. I wept and
story—the wealthy were giving their offerings to the temple
cried out to God. When my romantic relationship ended,
treasury. Many gave great sums of money. Yet Jesus didn’t
her heart broke. She was burdened for me. After all, Romans
seem moved by their giving. Instead, He commented on the poor widow’s giving of two coins. He explained: “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44). I believe this meaning runs deeper than our finances. Jesus calls us to give sacrificially but does not limit us to giving financially. I have found that God also calls us to give out of our poverty in other areas. My friend may not have the healthy pregnancy she believes for at this point, yet she rejoices. She gives her
12:15 tells us to “...weep with those who weep.” As time went on, things became bittersweet. It seemed
celebration to others and blesses them. She plans those baby showers. She rejoices, even when it is coming from a place of
like everyone was announcing pregnancies. Not knowing
personal loss and heartbreak. Likewise, I may not have that
of her loss, a loved one had even asked her to plan a baby
marriage I’m longing for, yet I’m rejoicing with my friends
shower. I, too, dealt with a similar reality. I was asked to be
who announce their engagements.
a bridesmaid. I received invites to other weddings. A close
While we’re never told anything more about the widow,
friend even asked me to help plan her wedding. Everyone
I have the faith to believe that God took care of her. I believe
seemed to be celebrating the one thing I didn’t have.
she did not go without. I believe her every need was met.
I quoted Romans 12:15 earlier, but not in its entirety:
While my friend and I do not have the answers to our
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those
prayers quite yet, we stand firm, knowing that God will give
who weep.”
us everything we need. He takes care of those who sacrifice.
30 // June 2020
