The Joy of Trials

I don't know about you all, but I sure have a hard time with trials. I mean, why else would they be called "trials" unless they were trying? In my life, I've had my share of trials. I've lost people that I loved, friendships have fallen apart, things haven't always gone as planned. However, James still writes:

"Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

~James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Something that I have learned in life is that joy and happiness are not the same thing. It is very possible to be happy, but not joyful. Happiness comes from our surroundings, and varies from moment to moment. On the other hand, joy comes from knowing our Savior and having Him live in us. He is our joy. Because joy is not dependent on our circumstances, we CAN be joyful during trials. 

 I encourage you to be joyful today. It is easy to get so wrapped up in what is around us that we forget what truly matters. Making a "Thankful List" really helps. I journal each night and something that I have made a habit of doing is to include a list of things that I am thankful for each day. I've been doing this for over a year-and-a-half now, and I am on # 4,218. It doesn't have to be anything really complicated; you could write "I am thankful for a beautiful day." Just the act of thinking about your blessings can brighten any situation and help to make the trial a bit easier. Because, honestly, if you think about it, your life is easy compared to that of the other six billion people in the world. After going to a third-world country, I have been able to see first-hand how blessed we truly are. I don't wake up in the morning not knowing where my next meal will be. I don't go to bed wondering if this was my last day on earth because I am dying of AIDS (note* I do not have AIDS, just an example because it is reality for many people). I don't live my life in fear that I am going to be kidnapped and sold into slavery (for more information on this, visit my sidebar link "About Human Trafficking..."). Compared to the billions of people out there, my life is crazy easy. My trials are nothing compared to theirs. I'm not trying to undermine the trials in your life - I know that they can be really, really hard. I'm just trying to say that sometimes life isn't as bad as we make it out to be - at least not when we compare our circumstances to those of many others. Today, I challenge you to be joyful because of the hope that lives within you: Jesus. I challenge you to examine your life and see that you probably have it much, much easier than many people around you - so stop complaining. Life isn't easy by definition or action, but we can still find joy and peace in the midst of our trials.

If we allow our trials to consume us, then we aren't truly living. Every day is a gift, and if we are pessimistic and only allow ourselves to see the pain and trials, then we aren't embracing that gift. We can make the most out of every moment by being joyful. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to waste the precious time that I have on earth. It isn't long, only but a breath. I don't want to come to the end of life and find that I have never truly lived because I have never learned out to make the most of each day.

Blessings,

Hannah