Instant gratification and comfort are two prominent nouns sought after across the globe. Technological advances, the speed of change, and the increase in transit societies create environments void of delayed gratification. Discomforts are also minimized. No one seeks after being uncomfortable or to experience pain, quite the contrary we go to great lengths to feel comfort. We spend all our resources to acquire, consume, and improve each comfort and satisfy every want disguised as a need. Yet we worship a God who characterizes Himself as the opposite and chose the opposite for Himself.

How often do you find yourself desiring tranquility, well-being, and soundness of mind and heart? Yet, are confronted and assaulted by the chaos and noise of life, and before you realize it you are operating out of known experience, fear, or even anxiety. Renown author and theologian C.S Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” (p.50, Mere Christianity)

Laughter is an experience. The chapter in Helen Keller’s biography continued by explaining all the things her Teacher did to lead Helen through the motions of happiness. Leading Helen motion by motion to the point of Helen experiencing laughter for herself, firsthand. Although Helen could not hear her own laughter she could still experience it through the rest of her being. Praise God for His Spirit, the teacher, who leads us through motions of emotion all the while etching the fruit of joy into our souls. Like Helen, we too can be blind and deaf to an experience. We too can be saved children of God walking with Him, but missing one important fruit, joy, from our lives.

I remember learning during my freshman year at university while taking a psychology course about the effect of love on a child’s development. The study proved that a child who is loved is shown attention and demonstrates healthier development within their brain, and emotional, physical, and mental being. The studies demonstrate each human is born with a deep desire to be loved. Love.

One concept I have personally always enjoyed reflecting on and teaching to my young toddlers was the concept of opposites. Our libraries for my sons had tons of books illustrating this concept.

The opposite of up is down.

Light. Dark.

Happy. Sad.

Inside. Outside.

Big. Small.

Tall. Short.

The list goes on and on illustrating the relationship between the two items. Opening up the idea that the only way to recognize tall, or for tall to be considered tall, was to have something short in comparison. Comparison. Think, if everything was the same height or length there would be no such thing as tall or short. Even worse yet, we could only appreciate tall when short is present, rather than appreciating it irrespectively. Comparison is dangerous territory for it narrows our perspective. Comparison can lead us to see only in part and operate out of limited information. Too often this issue of comparison impairs our ability to walk with our living God. Paul addresses this in his letter to the Galatians.