I've been thinking a lot on how life can feel at times. I see some people acting joyful, others crying in sorrow, some raging their frustrating. A question has sat on my mind frequently. What does rejoicing in suffering actually look like? In my own life if I were to live joyfully, especially when things don't go according to my plans, it sure would look different and sound different.
The book of James starts out very clearly stating "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking any thing." That is a rather bold statement consider it pure joy. How does a human being alter their feelings to such a state? ... pure joy?
Often when I have a hard time figuring out what things may look like lived out I read the same statement in different versions or even at times actually look words up in the dictionary. But this time simply looking at a different version helped. "Consider it a sheer gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows it's true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do it's work so you become mature well-developed, not deficient in any way. (continues with) If you don't know what your doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help..."
Things have felt pretty hard in my family lately and I find myself in a back and forth between joyful gratitude and impatient misery. There really has been some amazingly beautiful light on days that have begun to feel dark. For the latter half of the past year there have been these tests and challenges from all sides. The good news is that if I see things written in a book I know I am not unique in these things.
I know that no matter how any given day feels, it is only good or bad based on how I perceive it. It is the same day only changed by how I think about the circumstances of the day. That leaves the only route of actually changing anything is changing what I am thinking about.
I think the greatest set up for misery is a lie that implies that living a good life, a happy life, is one that is not so complicated by life issues. Thinking that somehow my life will be smooth sailing at some point. That once all of the problems are sorted out that it will be easy. That living with God's Spirit in me would lead to having peace in my circumstances. When I put my focus on desiring these things, they draw me away from what is true. Never has there been a greater condemnation than to believe that life on earth will be made easy as I learn to trust God more and more. But if I am drawn to question what I know is true, then I know these lies are gripping my heart tighter. If things don't feel that great does that imply I lack faith?
If I begin to forget that the current state of existence on this planet is a war zone, then yes it could feel pretty bad. But if I pay close attention to the details I can see that the more spiritually refined and narrow my own path becomes, the more difficult the circumstances can appear. War never feels good unless certain victory is at hand. There resides the how to of finding joy. If I can open my eyes to the spiritual war, see my own life filled with unimaginably huge conflicts and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that victory is certain, then I can see joy.
This is not as simple as it sounds. There are days when I see the harsh realities of my own inabilities to fix it. Days where my son cries in pain and I can't do anything to make it better. Times I wish I could be a better mom to my teenage daughter. Moment by moment of trying to surrender the medical issues everyone in my family is facing. Weeks if not months where it can seem like everything I touch breaks down. Days that I can't find logical solutions. Letter after letter in the mail, on many topics, displaying how dishonesty in others seems to be believed and we are confronted with the appearance that those who lack integrity could override truth standing. Then throw in my own mistakes and oversight... When I look at the many struggles and lack of solutions- Joy is not a choice. But if I look at the spiritual implications, it can change to a slight grin in understanding the path I'm on. When I only want to see what God sees, He is writing quite a story of faith.
With that I can read further 2 Corinthians 4 "Since God has so generously let us in on what He is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. We don't twist God's word to suit ourselves. Rather we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display... ... We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we are not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken."
I have felt worn down, frustrated, alone. I've tried to swallow back spiteful responses to unsolicited advice. I have allowed my feelings to dictate what I believed. I have put up my fists to fight a losing battle. I have tried to force my own will and make things happen prematurity. Surrender takes time and practice. Trust can feel shaken. But again all of these things draw the question of where I'm allowing my thoughts to reside. Truth does not change based on how I feel or the perceptions I give in to. Simple yet I can overcomplicate anything.
The book of James starts out very clearly stating "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking any thing." That is a rather bold statement consider it pure joy. How does a human being alter their feelings to such a state? ... pure joy?
Often when I have a hard time figuring out what things may look like lived out I read the same statement in different versions or even at times actually look words up in the dictionary. But this time simply looking at a different version helped. "Consider it a sheer gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows it's true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do it's work so you become mature well-developed, not deficient in any way. (continues with) If you don't know what your doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help..."
Things have felt pretty hard in my family lately and I find myself in a back and forth between joyful gratitude and impatient misery. There really has been some amazingly beautiful light on days that have begun to feel dark. For the latter half of the past year there have been these tests and challenges from all sides. The good news is that if I see things written in a book I know I am not unique in these things.
I know that no matter how any given day feels, it is only good or bad based on how I perceive it. It is the same day only changed by how I think about the circumstances of the day. That leaves the only route of actually changing anything is changing what I am thinking about.
I think the greatest set up for misery is a lie that implies that living a good life, a happy life, is one that is not so complicated by life issues. Thinking that somehow my life will be smooth sailing at some point. That once all of the problems are sorted out that it will be easy. That living with God's Spirit in me would lead to having peace in my circumstances. When I put my focus on desiring these things, they draw me away from what is true. Never has there been a greater condemnation than to believe that life on earth will be made easy as I learn to trust God more and more. But if I am drawn to question what I know is true, then I know these lies are gripping my heart tighter. If things don't feel that great does that imply I lack faith?
If I begin to forget that the current state of existence on this planet is a war zone, then yes it could feel pretty bad. But if I pay close attention to the details I can see that the more spiritually refined and narrow my own path becomes, the more difficult the circumstances can appear. War never feels good unless certain victory is at hand. There resides the how to of finding joy. If I can open my eyes to the spiritual war, see my own life filled with unimaginably huge conflicts and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that victory is certain, then I can see joy.
This is not as simple as it sounds. There are days when I see the harsh realities of my own inabilities to fix it. Days where my son cries in pain and I can't do anything to make it better. Times I wish I could be a better mom to my teenage daughter. Moment by moment of trying to surrender the medical issues everyone in my family is facing. Weeks if not months where it can seem like everything I touch breaks down. Days that I can't find logical solutions. Letter after letter in the mail, on many topics, displaying how dishonesty in others seems to be believed and we are confronted with the appearance that those who lack integrity could override truth standing. Then throw in my own mistakes and oversight... When I look at the many struggles and lack of solutions- Joy is not a choice. But if I look at the spiritual implications, it can change to a slight grin in understanding the path I'm on. When I only want to see what God sees, He is writing quite a story of faith.
With that I can read further 2 Corinthians 4 "Since God has so generously let us in on what He is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. We don't twist God's word to suit ourselves. Rather we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display... ... We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we are not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken."
I have felt worn down, frustrated, alone. I've tried to swallow back spiteful responses to unsolicited advice. I have allowed my feelings to dictate what I believed. I have put up my fists to fight a losing battle. I have tried to force my own will and make things happen prematurity. Surrender takes time and practice. Trust can feel shaken. But again all of these things draw the question of where I'm allowing my thoughts to reside. Truth does not change based on how I feel or the perceptions I give in to. Simple yet I can overcomplicate anything.