Count it all JOY- WHAT?!?!

"Count it all JOY my brothers when you meet trails of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3

It's much easier said then done. To count All trials JOY. How is that possible you're facing your own personal Goliath and you're suppose to count that as Joy?
Really? Joy?
It's much easier when facing your trial to kick and scream like a four years old in Walmart who didn't get the toy they wanted.
It's easier to think why me? Why in the world do I have to do this? Can't someone else go through this for me and I'll support them from the sidelines?
Is there anyway to go through this without going through this?

The answer .... NOPE.
I know that's not the fun answer but take heart, when you face those Goliaths in your life you're not going in alone.
Sure it's scary and somewhat menacing but HE is with you.
God, our faithful Creator (1Peter 4:19) He doesn't send you into battle with a pat on the back and a wish of good luck. He prepares you for the road that lies ahead.
It won't be easy, it won't always be fun but you will over come the trial.
You will look back and say - "Wow, it's in the past."
You will see the goodness of the Lord!

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!Wait for the Lord ; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:13-14

Don't lose heart but take courage. You will make it through to the other side. Where there is rain the sun will soon shine.

When it comes down to me facing my Goliaths, sure I don't like it and I may start to have a hissy-fit but then I remember that I'm not walking this road alone. I'm not sent out into battle unprepared but I can walk boldly in the LORD. Trusting that He will lead me to victory all I have to do is get out of the way and let HIM lead!

- Trust and Obey -

There is a quote from a movie I watched once it said, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." ....... just something to keep in mind as we face our day to day.


Sometimes I lose focus, sometimes I lose sight of what's really important. I think I get so caught up in life and what I'm doing that I leave something important behind. What you may ask, let me tell you... HIM. If you're wondering who HIM is well it's Jesus. I lose sight that He can handle all my fears and doubts. That He can handle all my anxious thought, that nothing is too big or too small. He just wants me to come to Him, to cry out to Him, He waits ever so patiently for me.
Yet it seems often that even thought I know this it takes me a while to get there. I tend to cry out to friends and family before turning to the ONE who can hold my hand, the ONE who can truly do something about what I'm going through. The ONE who knows my thoughts before I think them and still wants to hear them. With Someone like that in my life why is it that I turn to those who will fail me , hurt me and let me down? (Not that they do, it's just they are human and make mistakes, HE however never makes mistakes, He is faithful in ALL HIS promises!)
Please don't get me wrong I love having my girl time and calling them up when my world goes pear shaped. I'm just saying that before I turn to them I should go to the ONE who made the world, then to my friends and family whom I know love me and care so much about me.
I'm going to leave you with the verse of the day ....
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy." Colossians 1:11

I like to remember something, it's not how you fall it's how quickly you get back up when you do. Don't let life get you down, not even if it's raining and you're praying for sun. Because without the rain we wouldn't have flowers.