“The third is the gift of faith. We can believe in Him – for life, for love, and for the power to overcome. Power to overcome even death. This gift requires trust, and helps us get through every day, every circumstance, and every period of trouble. It is a gift that offers a holy hand to hold and a holy shoulder to cry on. A gift that holds the answers of hope and joy.”

The quoted paragraph above is an excerpt from the Proverbs 31 devotions for December 17th, 2008 by Tracie Miles. Go to http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com to read the entire entry – it is based on John 3:16 -“For God so loved the world (us) that He gave His one and only begotten son (Jesus), so that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have everlasting life.”

Where am I going with this??

I have received many comments and e-mails regarding my attitude in dealing with the trials life has dished out to us. I want to make sure everyone understands that I have my moments – and days – that are really ugly. I get angry. I cry. I doubt. It brings my heart joy to know that I can be an encouragement to others even in my humanness and that Jesus is using my circumstances to perhaps bring joy or peace or understanding to others. Do I wish I didn’t have to go through this? Absolutely! But as I have learned from past sufferings we have endured – there are always rewards we would not have received had we gone down an easier road. Many times it is a new friend I cannot imagine living my life without. But all of it is a process and my ultimate goal is to lean on Christ. Much of the time I succeed, but we can never fully understand or wrap our brains around suffering and what we see as injustice. We can only cling to the Saviour and strive to be the child he desires us to be, but in the end it is only death that gives us the perfect, sinless life that HE originally intended.

My hope and prayer for you today is that you know Him. If you already have a relationship with Him, grow it. If you do not -ask for one. He is there ready and waiting to help you through all of your tough spots too. I know that I would probably have killed myself long ago if I didn’t know that He was watching out for me and wanted the absolute best for me. He cries when I cry. He laughs when I laugh. He holds me up and promises to never leave me or forsake me. The best Best friend you can have. John 10:10 says, “The thief (Satan)comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus)came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Not so we can trudge through – but have an abundant, joy-filled life.

Joy and happiness are not the same. Joy is knowing that there is more to this life, no matter your circumstances. Happiness is a feeling dependent on circumstances. Since many of my circumstances are outside my scope of ‘control’ – I am going to choose joy =) Joy in the family and friends I have, joy in the weather – whether it is snow or rain or a sunny 70 degrees, joy in the Christmas lights, joy in giving the perfect gift at Christmas, joy at the picture my child draws just for me, joy in wearing party dresses over our jammies on an ‘ice day’, joy in an ‘unconditional-love’ hug from my 2-yr old. Joy. Find it. It is there – sometimes you have to just forget all the other ‘crap’ around you and live for that one moment. It helps to not eat you alive.

I hope you can truly celebrate the gift that is Jesus this Christmas season and accept the presents He has wrapped up – just for you.

Triann