Today

Today was rough. Today was more than I wanted to deal with. Today was not what I would have liked it to be. Today I came home with another headache. Today I got yelled at. Today I wanted to run away. Now all that being said, even though it was a rough day, I can pick some blessings out of it.

 I was asked to pray for someone today. I spent my day with great people and we all could relate to the roughness of the day. I was able to comfort someone. I was able to talk with a good friend. I am healthy and able to work. I was able to talk to another good friend. I was able to pray and read from Gods word. I was able to come home and spend time with my family. I will sleep good tonight.....I'm sure. 

It reminds me of how Gods word tells us that when we face trials we are to consider it pure JoY. This is found in the book of James, but I'm unsure of the chapter or the verse. And I'm lazy right now to go look it up. Haha. Now....how do we get joy out of trials and rough days? Well....I have been realizing that everything that happens to us in a days time is no surprise to our God. He knew since before we were created what we should go through on May 31, 2016. This is amazing to me. That all of what happens to us is all in His perfect plan. Now that alone should give us joy, but continuing on in the verse....it tells us that trials produce perseverence. Perseverance is the ability to keep going in life even though times are rough and not comfortable. It's a way we can keep on keeping on. So we should be joyful in hard circumstances so we can not only draw close to our God, but keep going on working for Him in the process. I am convinced that things happen to us so we can be reminded that our God is right there waiting for us. We tend to go our own way and do our own things. We tend to forget Him. He's using circumstances to draw us to His side and call on Him. He won't push himself on us, but wait for us to come. Patiently wait for us. This is so beautiful. To recognize that our Holy God waits for us. Waits for me? I'm not worthy of such a blessing. I'm not worthy of such a love He has for me. I'm nothing and can do nothing without Him. I don't show it enough or love Him enough.....yet he waits and allows me to have rough days so I can persevere and call on Him for help. He continues to love me despite my sin.....this is amazing to me. 

So,,..having joy in trials? The way I look at it is our God knows what we will face each and every minute of every day. He walks ahead of us paving our way and if he's already there where we are headed we have no reason to fear or worry.....this is JOY! Knowing He has is all worked out.....who can't be joyful about that?