FINDING JOY DESPITE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in your life is a deep and lasting assurance IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

Sometimes it’s difficult to wrap my head around that…lasting assurance in any circumstance….how incredibly powerful is that?

When it rains it pours! It’s always one thing after another. Every time I have some extra money set aside, something big happens that takes that money! Could I just catch a break? Will it ever end? I’m exhausted, how much more can I take?

How often have you said those words? Life is tough! At times, it seems more than we can handle. No one is immune to challenges and difficulties in this lifetime. In fact, God tells us,

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NLT

How can you find true joy and contentment when everything around you seems to be falling apart?

The answer lies in your perspective. True peace and joy are not found in positive thinking, in the absence of conflict, or in good feelings. They come from knowing God is in control.

It’s difficult to not let our circumstances get us down. I mean truly – how much can one person take?

How much more do I have to suffer?

Over the past several years, I’ve had that very thought many, many times. How much more do I have to go through?

I spent years suffering from chronic migraines, getting anywhere from 3-5/week. (If you aren’t familiar with my story, be sure to check out What I’ve Learned From My Chronic Illness.) What seemed like hundreds of doctor’s visits, trips to the ER, and hospitalizations later, I finally got a doctor to listen. One who was willing to listen and think outside the box. I had a hysterectomy and to say it changed my life is not at all dramatic! (Now I’m happy to report that the only thing causing my migraines are perfume and cologne!)

And I thought it was all over. I was finally getting my life back until a trip to the ER late last summer revealed diverticulitis requiring a week-long hospital stay and what has turned into a year of one challenge after another. I’ve had more ER visits, hospital stays and a surgery that was meant to correct the problem but instead, has created one complication after another. It’s left me exhausted and, at times, ready to give up!

And with all this going on, it certainly hasn’t left us immune to the rest of life’s challenges. We’ve had one minor emergency after another.

But you know what? We always get through it. God provides for us every single time.

He gives me the strength to go on. He shows me that everything we are going through is merely a blip in time. He reminds me that

The joy I have in Him is independent of my circumstances.

I realize that it isn’t easy to rise above your circumstances. But I’m here to tell you that you can do it. It may require you going to God every few minutes of every day, but that’s o.k. You have to train yourself to believe in Him, to trust in Him, to give Him your challenges. It takes a humble heart to admit your need for God.

So just how are you supposed to do this?

Pray Continually

Every time you begin to worry, stop and pray. Ask God to take this worry from you, to give you eyes and ears to see and hear His perspective in this circumstance. Afterall, His perspective is so much clearer than ours. Ask Him to light the path before you.

Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

Be diligent with your prayers, and don’t let your faith die if the answers don’t come right away. That delay may be God’s way of working His will in your life. He’s teaching you something through these challenges and you may just need more time to learn.

Remember, His timing is perfect. Perfect!!! How incredible is it that He knows what we need when we need it?

It’s amazing to feel the change when you begin to pray over and over again. You’ll feel the weight of the world lift from your shoulders. You’ll begin to find joy, no matter what you’re going through.

Thank Him

One of the most powerful things you can do when you’re going through a challenge is to stop and thank God. I know what you’re thinking. “Why on earth would you want to thank Him for the difficulties you are going through?”

The very act of thanking Jesus increases your joy and lifts you above your circumstances. Sarah Young, Jesus Always

He doesn’t expect you to thank Him for your challenges, but rather, thank Him for the good that you know will come from this because He can, and will, bring beauty out of the ashes.

Thank God for the opportunity to live closer to Him. Thank Him for the strength that he provides through these difficulties. And thank Him for never leaving you and loving you unconditionally.

Rejoice in your circumstances

Learn to rejoice in your circumstances because this is when God gets to show you all He is capable of. Rejoice in His constant Presence with you.

Think back over the years. How many difficulties and struggles have you been through? How often did you feel like you were alone and God was nowhere to be found?

Now think back again. I bet something wonderful came out of that challenge. And I have no doubt, it turned out far better than what you had hoped. You see, He never left you. God was right beside you the entire time.

Always remember

• God’s got you. He’s got your back, and He knows what’s best for your life. You have no control over these circumstances, and yet, how many times do you stress over them, trying to get control of it all? Nine times out of ten, our mind works overtime to turn a minor emergency into something so big that we feel we can’t handle.
• God’s already gone before you AND he’s got you by your right hand. So let Him have control. Let Him take care of you because He can, and will, do it so much better than you will.
• Trying to carry your struggles on your own shows you have not trusted God fully with your life.
• Don’t put your trust in worldly things. They will let you down every single time. Instead, put your trust in the God who created you, the God who has never let you down, the God who loves you unconditionally.
• Don’t submit to your circumstances, but to the God who controls those circumstances. When you learn to do that, then you’ll find complete peace and joy!

So continue to pray. Continue to thank Him and trust in Him to provide exactly what you need. Learn to rejoice in your struggles and challenges because He’s teaching you something big and beautiful.

Go out today with a light heart, knowing that God has already gone before you. Find peace in the fact that no matter what is going on, He is taking care of it. He’ll provide the strength, wisdom, and guidance you need. 

And then allow yourself to find joy despite your circumstances.

Do you have a challenge you’re struggling to get through? Leave me a comment below or email me at tammy@footprintsofinspiration.com. We are all in the trenches together, and we can get through them together.

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Until next time, my friend…..

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