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Faith Brings Joy 

There is a false allusion that being Christian and following Christ means we will not suffer or endure great trials. The misunderstanding that there both should not be and will be no tension or tense moments as followers of Christ, truthfully, means the opposite. It is living both crucified and risen in everyday lives and everyday circumstances, both big and small. It is giving and receiving both grace for today and grace for tomorrow. In trials, in seasons of hardship, we have every opportunity to pull ourselves away from God, that is, the very design of the broken world, to be less Christ-like. I challenge you to keep both seeking Him and knocking on His door persistently and perseveringly through prayer. We can press into our daily trials, our seasons of hardship, to come out confidently and joyfully on the other side, sharing His glory.

This brings me to Romans 5; Faith brings Joy.

Romans 5 (NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

3 We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. We know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

What hopeful news is that through Jesus Christ, we do not need to go through hardships alone. Our relationship with our One true God is restored. He is with us, loves us, and calls us by name; take heart, take refuge. You are a child of God.