Camera moments. Those images captured from time into a single, still reflection. Gazing at a photo, we see the brilliant smiles and can practically hear the laughter that was certainly happening the moment the shutter clicked. Sure, we all know there is movement before and after an image, but that knowledge seems to fade away in the presence of what is seen right in front of us. The bright, carefree smile.
It is similar to the movement of life in real time. The public smile of the person in front of us does not exclude their private tears. That smile could be a mask used to weather the tears that fell earlier. Or the smile – the one you recognize as genuine – is more likely an honest expression of holding grief and joy simultaneously. So what do we say to the hardship behind the smile? How do we learn to hold the simultaneous opposites of life? How do we respond to the struggle that isn’t seen in the smiles of the camera moment?
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of the
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
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All of us experience troubles. It is actually guaranteed to us in John 16 that troubles will be part of our lives. But that same scripture guarantees our hope in Christ’s overcoming of the world. All troubles – big and small – are part of our lives on planet earth. All troubles – big and small – are used for our good and his glory. All troubles – big and small – are part of our loving Father’s plan to grow us into his likeness.
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The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
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So how do we explain the smiles in the camera moment? How do we, as believers, find a way to laugh in the midst of the troubles that we are actually guaranteed to experience? We believe the truth of Psalm 34:18. We find the courage to take God at his word. We fully experience the difficult while fully trusting in his presence. And when we practice that often enough, we get brave. We get courageous. We get confident that while trials swirl around us, we actually get to LAUGH – something so contrary to what seems reasonable for the situation. Yet laughter is actually a very reasonable response to the reality of God’s presence in that situation.
Laugh, child of God! Smile to your heart’s content. Face those trials with the certainty that you are not alone in them. When you see photos of smiling faces, happy times frozen in time, let the full story of God’s goodness in those camera moments remind you…
You are adored.
You Are Adored 