Count it ALL Joy!

This lil gem was in my draft section and I blew the dust off because I needed the reminder maybe you do too ? 

I've been thinking about this scripture;

"Consider it all joy my brethren (or sisterhood) when you encounter various trials"

Have you heard these words from the book of James before?

You can find them in the very first chapter of the book of James in the bible.

It's hard to believe that this is what James, Jesus' brother wrote in the very beginning of his book.

It was like right off the bat he wants you to know, he's not gonna be the book you go to, to feel cozy and warm.

He didn't mess around that James dude!

As a writer you look for the opening statement that is grab your reader and keep them reader, I'd say James was a pretty damn good writer wouldn't you?

"Consider it all joy my brethren (or sisterhood) when you encounter various trials"

Ok maybe he doesn't have the sisterhood bit in there, but I'm sure that was just an oversight, I won't hold that against him will you?

The past few weeks I feel as though I have had me some trials!

I have heard me some trials from beloved friends!

They aren't the kind that are 3rd world trials by any means, but none the less they have been challenging to me and to those I love deeply. 

And whenever I go through tough times personally, or just from hearing of the variety of trials around me I always think to myself...

That James must have been on CRACK cause JOY is the last thing I think of when I'm having a bad day, week, month, YEAR!!

I mean no disrespect, but I wonder if anyone else can relate here?

I mean, if you take the word 

TRIAL

and then the word

JOY

they just don't seem like they would be best friends, do they?

Know what I'm sayin'? 

So, then I wonder what do trials and joy have any business doing together in the same sentence?

I think that might be a rhetorical question, but then again maybe not because I'm going to try and answer it too.

In the past few weeks I have asked for prayers for myself from "the sisterhood" about oh... I dunno... umpteen times. 

I felt kinda like a rug. 

Beaten and shaken out to dry!

But, in the midst of these couple of rough weeks I realized that something deeper was happening and if I could just make it to the finish line(or to the coffee pot) I would be o.k. 

And, I can honestly say, that is why ... Today, I had myself a GREAT day!!

I made it to the other side of FUNK mountain and I came out singing.

The light at the end of this tunnel of FUNK was so bright it almost blinded me today.

As I walked around with a song on my lips and a spring in my step I just thought... 

Here is where Joy and Trials go hand in hand. 

Because the truth of the matter beloved reader is that there may pain in the night but joy really does come in the morning when you just hold on for dear life to the Anchor, Creator, Giver, Savior, and Healer.