Is Love Worth The Sorrow?

I hate death!  Can I say that?  I know we're not supposed to hate...but death?...surely that is okay.  My heart is overwhelmed today.  I received word that some dear friends got bad reports; liver disease and cancer.  My soul is at war.  My flesh cries out "it's not fair!", but my spirit says "we deserve death".  My heart says "stop loving, it hurts too much!", but my spirit says "love is worth the sorrow".  The battle does not disturb me, for I know who will win, because greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)  I have learned that grief can coexist with joy and sorrow with love.  One day grief and sorrow will be no more, but until that day we live in what C.S. Lewis called the shadow lands.

I recently read The Giver, by Lois Lowery.  It was a society that had engineered life to be safe.  It was perfectly designed to avoid pain and sorrow.  And they were successful.  However, there was a price to pay.  The constant comfort had lost the color of life.  In getting rid of the lows they had leveled out the highs as well.  Is avoiding hurt worth giving up love and joy?  It is true that we live in a shadowed land.  Our colors are faded.  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB) 

Since the time of Adam and Eve we have had rebellious hearts and turned to our own way.  We deserve death.  There is a price to pay.  Praise God for His mercy and grace!  Jesus paid that price!  He has secured our future.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NASB)  We do not grieve as those without hope...one day we will see clearly.  Death will be swallowed by Life.  Victory is assured for those who hope in Christ!

As great as that is to come, what about now?  "Do not let your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things...Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you." (John 14:1,18,26-27 NASB)  "Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love...These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:9-11 NASB)  There is a great exchange happening even now.

I know what it is to build walls, to numb myself in order to avoid pain.  It seems to work for a time, but in the end it is a lie that marches you on to a death of another kind.  There is no escaping trouble of this world (John 16:33), but God promises to always be with us.  Love is so powerful it sent Jesus to the cross.  "But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NASB) Love never fails!  Love IS worth it!