We all have days where we seem to struggle some more than others. Some are struggling with the loss of a child, while others struggle with things from financial struggles to marriage issues to personal issues. Yet how are we called to find Joy and hope in this? it’s seems to be this the past few weeks for me while struggling throughout issues but, when put into comparison to others struggles mine seem small and Insignificant, now how do we find joy in it?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. 
—James 1:2

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 
—Philippians 4:13 nkjv

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 
—Isaiah 26:3

We have many scriptures that tell us to be joyous in all. Any that you can do all things and get though all things with Christ. Easier said than done for us going through it.

Paul tells us and also show us this by living it out in his life. Paul was Persecuted, beaten , jailed, tortured and still preached about finding joy. He tells us that through suffering we are taught perseverance and through this, character and hope comes. The more we persevere through things the stronger character we have and the more Hope we have.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:3-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/rom.5.3-5.esv

Knowing that Jesus tells us I will never leave you or forsake you. That no matter what we’re going through we are not on it alone. That although tough even life shattering issues and problems will hit us. We are not alone and we can make it through the grace of God.

If Paul has taught me anything is that when we put our hope and faith in eternal things like the Glory of God and what Jesus has done for us. We can have hope and joy in even the worst times. Knowing that God is in control and His plan is at work. When we put our hope in the world it’s like hitting a small scratch ticket we find temporary joy and then the world problems come racing back. This my friends is why we need to have eternal Joy, Joy that can only be found in Gods plan for us and for what Jesus did on the cross for us. This is what we have to remember when strife strikes us. To hold on tight to our Lord and remember that we are here temporally and what ever we are going though we have Hope and Joy in Gods plan for us.

I also heard this”that if you hear that being a follower of Christ is this joyous life filled with rainbows and unicorns, find another church.” Because Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us this, but the Bible tells us is that we will have strife and struggles in this life but we have the foundation of God to know we can make it through and find joy in the process. It’s like a long Bus ride. We know we will get to our destination but also know it will be a bumpy ride. 😊. So have faith my friends not of this world or your works but the faith that while we where still sinners separated from God that he still sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for us to pay for our sins. He did this while we where still his enemy not when we loved Him. If he can do this while we hated and disavowed Him imagine what He can do for us when we Love him? He sent his one and only Son to the cross for me and for you ….. for ALL the world.

This is the Joy and Hope that fill me in my struggles. Knowing that God plan is in motion in my life.

Praying for my friends and family who I know are personally struggling right now. May the compassion and comfort of our gracious Lord be felt in your lives as you go through these struggles, may the Hope of Gods plan bring you peace through your struggles. That knowing that the struggles we face , not be alone because your not alone.