Opportunity for great JOY

Mitchell and I are on our way home to Minnesota for spring break! Yay! I'm so excited to be headed home to where, ironically, it's actually warming than the current temperatures in Nashville! :)

It surprised us both how busy the airport is at 5am on a Saturday morning, then we remembered it is spring break time and everyone is dying to get somewhere warmer. Not many go to Minnesota seeking warmth, but alas, here we are. I'm flying with Randy today!

Sitting at our gate, I decided it was as good a time as any to do my daily devos and reading from Jesus Calling. A passage from James spoke to me today:

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For we know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." -James 1:3-4

I can't think of a time in my life when my faith has been tested more than its been tested these last few months without my dad. I've questioned and been angry; I've been depressed and sad, but I've also been able to feel joy because of the memories I have in my heart. It challenges me so deeply when the Bible says to consider this trial an opportunity for great joy. How in the world does that make any sense?

Then I skimmed down to the commentary of these verses and what that said brought tears to my eyes.

"The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain but to have a positive outlook because of what troubles can produce in our life."

Now THAT makes sense! Suddenly, this new perspective on these verses lifted this huge weight off of my shoulders created by this notion that in order to be a good Christian witness, I had to pretend to be happy even amidst the deep pain I feel every single day. How wrong I was about that!

I don't have to pretend to be happy about the loss of my dad. Let me just tell you, I'm SO not happy about it. I'm nowhere near happy about it! But, it is important to have a positive outlook despite our circumstances. There is opportunity for faith to grow from pain. You know who helps me keep this positive perspective and lives out this growing faith? My mom.

She's not at all happy with this card we were dealt either, but she is clinging to the Lord with all of her might and keeps things so positive by talking about all of the good memories we had, and the faithfulness of God throughout this time. Our faith has been tested without a doubt, but it's also been a blessing to see and feel our faith grow deeper.

How much deeper our faith has become, and that gives my heart so much joy. Joy that doesn't even make sense! Because of this joy, I can smile when I think of my dad. Because of this joy, I can cry happy tears thinking of the day when I get to see him again. Thank you Jesus for this opportunity for great joy!