James 1:2 tells us "Consider it joy whenever you face trials of many kinds."
This is one of those verses that sounds wonderful if all is right with your world, but it seems to disappear from memory whenever trouble comes. After all, can you really say you are happy when things go bad?
What we need to consider is the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is a "feeling" and as such changes from moment to moment and is based on many variables within your life. Happiness is a choice. Joy is an emotion as is love or anger and is based on our hope in the Lord. We know He holds our future in His hands and will use all things for good.
God does not call us to be happy with the trials that come our way but He does tell us to look to Him and follow His lead. We are to have joy in our heart because of the knowledge that in His eyes, our pain is never worthless.
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