Learn to find joy in life, despite your circumstances
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
— James 1:2 (NIV)
While we’re trying to make our lives happen, things seem to get in the way.
Some are big things; others are usual problems of life that go from mole hills to mountains when we let them control our thoughts.
Medical problems, job losses, relationship issues and family quarrels are some of the things that threaten our dreams and rock our stability. My friend always says we must be joy finders in life, especially when the trials of life tend to threaten our joy.
A quote from Alfred d’ Sousa says, “For a along time, it had seemed to me that life was about to begin, real life, but there was always an obstacle in the way, something to be gotten over first. Unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid, then life will begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”
This revelation can shine some light on life for us all. How many times have we said that when the kids grow up, when I get out of debt, when I get the perfect job or this situation leaves, then life will be better.
Although these things may be true — I’ve experienced them too — we have to learn how to be stable in difficult times and not allow the joys in life to pass us by, regardless of our circumstances.
Jesus told us in Matthew 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation … be of good cheer … I have overcome the world.” Jesus extended joy, a fruit of the Spirit, to help us stabilize our emotions and choices in the challenging situations of life. God knew we would face troubling times in this world and gave us means to cope. Joy brings stability to our souls in times of difficulty.
Finding the joy isn’t always easy, and sometimes we look in the wrong places. Simple joy is found in finding some way to help another. It is found by being strengthened through prayer, in believing in something better, looking for a bright spot in each day, and pondering good things that God has done rather than focusing continually on our problems.
The apostle James instructed us to consider the trials of life pure joy because they can cause us to use our faith. The early Christians suffered many hardships in life and could have had a different outlook, but they were encouraged to be joy finders.
As joy finders, we can persevere and trust God to handle anything that comes our way as we maintain the joy of living.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.