our holy joy

why did YOU make us to feel so deeply? why did YOU form us to love so strongly and despair so thoroughly? we miss our son more than words, everything inside us aches: our insides collapse and our minds spin. the only truth we can piece together is that we are in YOUR image and YOUR likeness. If we--fallen and sinful creatures--ache this much, how much more do YOU, our HOLY JOY, ache for us?

our tears moisten, YOUR tears flood.

since losing isaiah, david crowder's rendition of "how HE loves" captures the hope found in JESUS, our holy joy:

how HE loves*

HE is jealous for me, LOVES like a hurricane, i am a tree,

bending beneath the weight of HIS wind and mercy.

when all of a sudden, i am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

and I realize just how beautiful YOU are,

and how great YOUR affections are for me.

how HE loves us oh,

how HE loves us,

how HE loves us all

HE loves us,

oh how HE loves us,

oh how HE loves us,

oh how HE loves.

and we are HIS portion and HE is our prize,

drawn to redemption by the grace in HIS eyes,

if HIS grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

and heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,

and my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

i don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

when i think about, the way that

HE loves us,

oh how HE loves us,

oh how HE loves us,

oh how HE loves.

yeah, HE loves us,

oh how HE loves us,

oh how HE loves us,

oh how HE loves.

*lyrics by john mark mcmillian, performed (best!) by david crowder band