The Joy We Lost… and the Joy That’s Coming
By Jerry McCorkle
There’s a part of me that longs to be a kid again — to feel the thrill of being out of school, running home to play, going to bed with a carefree heart, and waking up the next morning ready to do it all over again.
Back then, the days were simple. You could head outside and play ball until the sun went down, or go to the local Dairy Queen-style ice cream shop (every town seems to have one), with nothing more on your mind than what flavor to choose.
In those moments, life hadn’t yet crept in with all its brokenness. You were free to just be a kid.
Of course, I know that wasn’t true for everyone. Some children face harsh realities far too early — growing up in pain, instability, or fear.
But for many of us, we hold tight to those memories, those glimpses of a world without pressure, without fear, without all the cracks and complications that come with growing older.Because as we grow, life becomes more layered.
Challenges arise. Insecurities we didn’t even know we had begin to surface. Worries start to settle in and weigh us down. We feel the sting of rejection — sometimes from friends, sometimes even from family. Our thoughts shift. Our outlooks change.
We carry burdens we never imagined as children.
There was a freedom in childhood — not just the ability to play, but the absence of that heavy awareness—a freedom from the burden of life’s brokenness.
But I believe — with all my heart — that a day is coming when we’ll know that freedom again. A new and restored world. A place where every day brings a fresh adventure. Where we’ll run, laugh, and live without fear, sickness, sorrow, or rejection. No pressure. Just joy.
Maybe you’ve heard that old Gaither song that reminds us of the very real joy that is coming:
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
When he takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be
It’s one thing to long for something good that’s coming. Let it fuel us as we sprint toward the finish line!
