Joy?

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4 (The Voice)

Whenever I read these verses, I always find myself astounded that they tell me that I will find joy in any hardships or tests I may face. Realistically, how many of us welcome challenges or hardships when they come or way, as wouldn’t we all rather live a life filled with happiness, peace and love!

Just because we may face challenges, that doesn’t preclude us from finding happiness, peace and love in our lives. I can tell you from experience that during one of most difficult and challenging times of my life, God sent someone into my life who has become a friend and a confidant, someone I can share my true feelings and emotions with, and them with me.

So although my first thought about finding joy in difficult times was to find it a ridiculous statement, I now realise that in hindsight, I did find joy through a new friendship during one of the most difficult times in my life. Therefore if like me you initially found it laughable that there can be joy in difficult times, stop and think, as you may just surprise yourself by realising you have found joy in times of hardship.