Count It All Joy

So I am laughing so hard because I just spent about 30 minutes typing this post about things not going my way and was typing the last sentence and somehow it deleted everything. So I will summarize and not spend so much time listing everything that is not going according to our plans. It has been an extremely difficult few weeks. And I have been struggling with feeling sorry for myself and constantly fighting off a pity party (which by the way are not pretty). Today I did not get to go to church as McKenzie and I are both sick. So I sat down this morning to have my quiet time which I desperately needed. And as always it was just what I needed to hear.

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith, produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." While I have read these verses several times I really focused on "And let steadfastness have its full effect". As I thought about what this means I realized this means having faith that does not change when things do not go according to your plan. It means not letting your circumstances waver how you feel, think or act. It means that no matter how bad things are you do not question that God loves you and is in control.

I have to admit over the last month or so I have said to myself or out loud, "OK, God, a little bit of help here" or "Maybe this isn't God's plan for us since every thing has been so difficult". But as I look back over our journey so far I see that God has taught me so much through things not going my way. He is teaching me humility. He is teaching me that I am not in control and it is better that way. He is showing us that it is better to store up treasures in heaven then on this earth. He is teaching me to trust in him for all things. He has taught me what a faithful friend is and I can't even begin to tell you what all he has taught us through our families. I look back over the last year and I see all these lessons that I am learning by things simply not going according to my plan. One thing I keep praying over and over is that I do not want to go through all this and come out the same. I want to be changed, even though it may not be pleasant. So for that reason, I want to count it all joy!! Count it all joy for trials bring steadfastness which results in you being perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. God is so good!!