The Joy Of Our Grandmothers

Psalm 64 tells of a life crisis that David is going through. He finishes his crying out to the Lord with these words:

All people will fear;

they will proclaim the works of God

and ponder what he has done.

The righteous will rejoice in the Lord

and take refuge in him;

all the upright in heart will glory in him!

- Psalm 64:9-10

Despite the crises, despite the chaos, the righteous will rejoice - because they know the works of God. They know His glory.

One theologian describes the joy of knowing the Lord as the “High privilege of his friends and disciples.” What does it mean to have a life marked with joy? What does it mean to truly rejoice?

A few weeks ago we celebrated my grandmother’s 90th birthday, affectionately known as “Nana” to all of us grandkids. We ate together, played games together, and shared memories and acknowledgements of the amazing woman Nana is.

As I reflected on the role she has played in my life, I am most marked by her unwavering sense of peace and joy. Nana is a calm, contemplative spirit, with a joy that is ever-present. I’ve never seen her flustered, furious, or agitated. She hasn’t blown up in anger and fallen apart in tears. In moments of stress, she reminds us of God’s faithfulness. When the pain of life plagues her, she quotes scripture. Even at her husband’s funeral, she kept reminding us of the eternal hope we have in Jesus.

What’s powerful about Nana isn’t the absence of negative emotions in her life. Surely there are times where she was upset, and maybe times out of sight of her grandkids where she didn’t always have it together. What’s powerful about this woman of God is that, even in the presence of pain, her joy was unwavering.

David describes a kind of joy that isn’t discouraged by life crises or the sin of our world.

True joy is unwavering because it is found in Christ alone. True joy is so confident that God is in control that it can rejoice even in the face of hard circumstances.

My nana isn’t perfect, but she has been an incredible example of steadfast confidence in the Lord. She has built a legacy of faith that will be passed down through generations. Because in the eye of the storm, her eyes never moved from her Maker.

I want more joy in my life. I’m sure you do too. We must be steadfast in our seeking of the Lord, spending our early morning hours connecting with Him, listening to His spirit throughout our days, lifting up our prayers, just like our grandmothers did years before us.

The more we know Him, the more we seek Him, the more we will have a joy that can’t be shaken. One day your grandkids will look back on your 90 years. They will tell stories of how you responded in the storm. Let’s rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, as David said.

And in Him, there we will find a joy that never fails.

Cristina Schmitter

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