Joy in the Fire?

Sweet friend, 

Sit down to write this as a weary woman. I’ve been battling many small fires over the past week. Today all of them converged in one place.

I was engulfed and overwhelmed. I wanted to grumble as I was thinking of writing deadlines, fighting an issue with the bank, fielding phone calls from my daughter who needed a ride while on my way to attempt to repair
a non-functioning air-conditioner in our rent house.

None of it went easy. Every step of it was complicated. I intentionally looked for ways to praise God.

Things finally turned around.

The bank returned my $10. My daughter made it to her pep-rally. It took three trips to different stores, but I even repaired the air conditioner!

As I look over my day that started way earlier than I would have liked, and will end way later than I feel I have the stamina for, I realize it was a good day. I won’t ask for a repeat any time soon–but I did good.

I intentionally googled, “Scriptures for when you have a bad day.” I found the exact one for today.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you 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 1:2-4, NLT

Today was an opportunity for joy. I could belly ache and bemoan how my day wasn’t what I wanted it to be, but then that steals the purpose of my many troubles. I choose to shift my vision and embrace the joy of today. As I do, my faith and endurance has a chance to grow.

So be encouraged if you are suffering many troubles–find a way to embrace the joy that God designed to come from the growing of your faith and endurance.

This is day 7 of the #write31days challenge where I will be writing a new post each day about having ‘FAITH in the FIRE’. If you don’t want to miss out on any of this series, click here and join my email mailing list. The posts will be delivered into your in-box.

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