Can there be joy in Mudville?

What do you suppose is the hardest thing about being a Christian? Have you ever thought about that? I was thinking about it last night on the plane. There are many difficulties that we face as Christians.
“Turning the other cheek”, finding the will of God for our lives, and resisting temptation are all difficult, but perhaps the most difficult is to be “joyful” when you fall into various trials. As ordinary humans we sometimes find some of God’s commands near impossible to follow. Jesus is the only person who ever lived on this earth who could follow them without fail; however, He was divine.

The Bible has quite a lot of material in it regarding experiencing trials and tribulations. Christians are forewarned that trials are going to come our way; it is only a matter of time. We are told that the ultimate result of our misery will be to our benefit. We are assured that God will be with us every step of the way and He will help us withstand the onslaught. We are instructed to be “joyful” when we experience trials.

How hard is that? What if today you learned that your spouse filed for divorce and ran off with your best friend, you lost your job, your doctor told you that you have a terminal illness, and your kids were arrested for taking drugs? Joyful? I don’t think!!!

As a Christian you know that this life is but a vapor and eternity is forever. The temporal pain that we suffer now will be replaced with eternal unimaginable happiness. Our current suffering builds patience and endurance. It all “sounds” logical, yet in reality human logic does little to ease pain and worry.

What is the answer? The only answer I can come up with is to pray for patience and perseverance. God is the only answer. We must pray without ceasing. Pray that God would build strength within us to endure whatever is served up to us.

Pray that almighty God will provide what we cannot provide for ourselves, a safe haven within the eye of the storm, where we can maintain peace and calm while life rages around us and eventually subsides and the sun comes back out and birds start chirping like crazy.

God wants us to realize that we must rely on “Him”, not ourselves. Everything in this world is temporary aside from God and our eternal spirits. The quicker that we can realize this and turn over our problems to Him and “trust” Him to take care of them, the better. There can be no “joy in Mudville” apart from God.

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James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy
when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect
work, that you may be perfect and
complete lacking nothing.