Holy Joy

"Holy joy, it rings loudest in the deepest canyons." Ann Voskamp


This one line struck me~~~and isn't it true?  It's true that the deep places in life are often the places that are hard and dark and low.  The mountain top experiences seem to draw us and we want to stay where we "are on top of the world"~~~where everything seems oh, so right.  But the truth is, sometimes it's the deep places in life that teach us the most.  It's the valleys and the bottoms of canyons that can sometimes make us feel like giving up.  But it's in the deep places that the water flows and the rich green grows. 

I've never been to the Grand Canyon before, but I've been to enough steep canyons here in Wyoming to know that it's often quiet and still~~~until someone gives a shout,
and then the echoes ring out!  Sound bounces off the walls in resonating pitches.  One shout yields more and more and more.  Laughter multiplies, and the rushing river sounds like a never-ending story.  And light~~~well, the light shines anyway. Even in the deepest parts with the narrowest openings, light beams find their way clear to the bottom, overpowering the cool, damp, darkness. 

What is "Holy Joy"?  Well, I imagine it's the kind of joy that comes from deep within.  The kind that flows through our veins, pumping from the heart of the soul.  It's like a Still Small Voice that echoes from every single steep ridge of our lives.  It's sometimes sorrow, and it's sometimes delight, but it flows like the river~~~it's the never-ending-story of life.  His light shines anyway~~~~even in our darkest times.  His light shines anywhere~~~even in those narrow, jagged, turns in the path. Holy Joy is sureness that He is steadfast and faithful.  And the sound?  Holy Joy rings out sheer praise!  Even one small murmer of thanks, when our heart is still hurting, can ring out and multiply like a thousand voices~~~~~because of the walls.  The walls of The Rock. The Rock stands on all sides, raising up high into the heavens.  His light shines through~~~~ and the echoes of praise ring loudest in the deepest canyons of life.

He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the Light.  Job12:22

In His hand are the depths of the earth and the mountain peaks belong to Him.  Psalm 95:4