Are you struggling to find joy right now? Maybe you’ve dealt with the loss of a loved one, or you have felt the pain and stress of life. How can you still hold on to hope that all will be well?

Patrick Conley and Fr. Sam Martin dive deep into the art of discovering joy amidst life’s sadness. Father shares encouragement inspired by an email from Val, a listener grappling with personal loss yet steadfast in her quest for joy.

Val’s story reveals that despite the pain she’s going through, she still finds happiness in little ways. Some people have told her that they don’t understand how she can still be so joyful in the middle of such darkness, and she wants to make sure that she’s not off track. Should she be sadder? Fr. Sam navigates this delicate balance, showing how true joy often blooms from suffering.

He draws inspiration from the life of Saint Josephine Bakhita, a woman who, despite enduring unimaginable hardships, discovered the power of joy to uplift and heal. Her story, marked by a deep faith, teaches us that joy is not an escape from sorrow but a defiant choice to dance in the rain.

Patrick also mentions some other emails which speak to other sources of pain and loss, including the death of a child. Fr. Sam reminds us that happiness cannot be the ‘end all be all.” As long as we’re with Jesus, we have a reason to hold on to hope. We should also turn to Mary and imitate her example. She loved her only son until the very end, and she knows the pain of grief and sorrow more than anyone.

The message is clear: joy is not only possible in the midst of trials; it is essential, a divine gift that sustains us on our journey toward healing and wholeness.

You can listen to the whole hour here!

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