Endurance

Because that’s what we’re supposed to do, right?  “Consider it pure joy?”  In the midst of the chaos that life seems to bring, I sometimes have a hard time finding joy in the difficult circumstances I face. Some days my heart is so heavy that it feels like the only thing pulling me through is inertia.

The thought occurred to me, though, that perhaps I’m not expected to FEEL joy (or at least joy as we understand it) in those exact moments of struggle. Maybe I’m just supposed to know joy because God is working in me, to make me better.  I know there must have been many moments where Job wasn’t ecstatic with his suffering.  But what I do know is that after having made it through, he was doubly blessed, and was surely able to see how his pain and suffering was redeemed – his faith rewarded.

It’s not easy to have faith while we’re in the midst of a battle.  I fail at that daily.  But I do also look back on times of struggle with a bittersweet thankfulness.  I can see how those times in my life made me who I am.  I can feel how they deepened my faith and most importantly, solidified my knowledge of God’s love for me.  I’ve been able to help others because of the challenges I’ve faced and overcome.