Who in their right mind wants trouble? No matter who we are or how we try to avoid it, trouble comes knocking at the doors of our lives and stays much longer than we’d prefer.  

Joy? How in the world can we find peace, pleasure, or satisfaction in difficulty? Rejoice in the midst of crisis?  Be hopeful in hardship and glad about the struggle? That barely makes sense if you look at it from our perspective, but makes a lot of sense when you look at it from God’s point-of-view.  

Trouble is not pleasant, but it has great authority to lead us to a level of strength we would otherwise not experience.  God uses our troubles to grow us up, reshape our thoughts, introduce us to ourselves, build our stamina and shape our character.  He allows us to get a glimpse of joy in the midst of our difficulties as we recognize that our circumstances may begin to change as we change.  Our reactions  to these relentless issues aren’t what they used to be because we’ve learn to trust Him more.  

Joy enters our experience, encourages us, and gives us a vision of what’s possible and better.  When we’re in the midst of the challenge- deep in the mire of the matter- God brings joy that we can count on to help us push through to see and know the hope we have in Christ.  We experience joy because He talks to us in trouble, directs us through difficulty, and stays close in the struggle.  

Our Sovereign God has a plan for the problem and it’s good for us.  What joy!