“The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.” —Ezra 3:13 (NLT)
When the foundation of the second temple was laid, there was a strange mix of emotions. Many rejoiced, celebrating the return of worship in Jerusalem after years of exile. But others—especially the older generation—wept, remembering the former temple’s glory and mourning all that had been lost (Ezra 3:12-13). This moment captures a deep truth: joy and sorrow often exist side by side.
We, too, experience this tension. Some things in life are worth grieving—sin, loss, suffering. And yet, even in our sorrow, joy is not absent. We can grieve our sin while rejoicing in God’s forgiveness. We can mourn the loss of a loved one while holding onto the joy of God’s promise to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). True faith doesn’t require us to choose between grief and joy; it teaches us to hold both in our hands, trusting that God is present in them both.