“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.” James 1:2-3 (AMP)

With the Christmas holiday just passing, many assume that everyone just had a very joyous holiday. But that’s not true. Sure I was excited to see my kids open their gifts, and joy and laughter resonated through our home, however there was great sorrow in my heart.

Situations do not just change because a holiday has come, and no amount of wishing could change these situations. There was deep hurt and sorrow. Feelings of being abandoned and forgotten. Overwhelming grief, and even anger because of something I can not change.

And the only words of encouragement that came was “Count it all Joy!”

So, I am looking for the joy in this situation. It isn’t easy though. There have been many tears, and prayers to the God of creation, and Maker of my heart. I know He knows and sees all this, and has a plan for this too, but those just seem like cliches right now. I wanted to write a new article, but couldn’t find anything encouraging to write about with all these emotions. And as I searched for some encouragement, I confided in a trusted friend. This is what they shared with me…

“Yes I will pray. Please remember that it’s those times of pain and great difficulty that God became flesh (Jesus) so that He would know what we go through and could identify and make intercession for us. Isa. 53:3-5; “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. “But” He was wounded for our Transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Some of your writing must come from the pain that you are going through; millions of others are there also–but don’t know what you know. Let them feel the pain but also how to–“Run to the Rock of our Salvation–run to the Rock that the builders rejected;—-When all around me is sinking sand on that Solid Rock I stand.” ”

As I read this, my perspective changed. For I saw that I did not have to face my situation alone. My Savior did face, maybe not the same situation, but the very feelings that I was having. And because He already endured them, He knows exactly how I am feeling, and He is interceding on my behalf.

We celebrate Christ coming to earth at Christmas. When His people most needed Him to step into time, He arrived. And just when I needed Him in this Christmas season, He arrived! When I cried out to Him, He came. He brought peace to my heart and I know, even though I cannot see how these situations are going to turn out, that I am not facing them alone. I may cry long into the night, but my cries are not unheard.

“… Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5b (AMP)

“For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],”. 2 Cor. 4:17 (AMP)

I know I am not the only one facing big situations. And I cannot say my situation is bigger in comparison to yours. But I do know a BIG God. In Him I can find a solid place to stand, when everything around me is crumbling. I want to encourage you, whatever you are facing, you too can run to Jesus. He knows exactly what you are going through, and all the emotions you feel. He’s been there, and He is here for you. He will help you find joy in every situation.