I feel no joy in sorrow, suffering, disappointment, sadness or difficulty. I don’t like it. I believe in God’s word, but during these times in my life it has been very hard for me to transcend my brokenness.

However, what I found time and time again, I must allow myself permission to acknowledge and feel the place and pain that I am currently in. For this is the beginning for me to realize what God has done for me in the past; His presence and promise to keep me and watch over me.

I eventually arrive at a place where I believe God never leaves us to fend for ourselves in difficult times. He promises to be with us in all that we face, and His whole heart encompasses our pain, surrounds us in peace, and gives us incredible hope and grace to keep pressing through.

Is this Joy?

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have
also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we
rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces
endurance, and endurance produces character, and character
produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because
God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit who has been given to us.

Shared by Brenda Walker