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Rom. 12:12  "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"  You know, sometimes it just seems impossible to rejoice in the hardship, but when I focus on the truth of God's faithfulness, love and presence in my life I can rejoice in hope.  Hope isn't based on what is tangible, it is based on a confident expectation of what is to come.  And this I know, God will be glorified through my life.  This next verse is another thing I know, and can take hope in...

Rom. 8:28  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Does God mean what He says?  Of course He does!  So I can be completely confident that He WILL work all the circumstances of my life together for good.  I had to come to the place where I was confident that God would work all the things of my life together for good, even if my circumstances never changed.  If I truly believe in His sovereignty, which is just as true as His love for me, I have to trust His hand and His work in my life!

Rom. 8:35-39  "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.   For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Do I really believe God's word?  This says that nothing can separate me from His love for me -- not an abusive past (or present), not a wayward child, not a wandering spouse, not the abandonment of my family, friends or church, not the loss of a child in death, not long-term debilitating illness, not a crippling accident, NOTHING.  When I look at the dark days of my life and then look at these verses I find God's love overwhelming.

Another thing that these verses say is that the love of God is found in Christ Jesus our Lord.  As we get to know Christ better through our hard times we learn more and more the truth of what God's love for us looks like.  Until our unbelief or wrong beliefs are challenged through our circumstances we do not take the time and trouble to look deeper and seek God to reveal the truth of how He sees us and how He relates to us in love.

Phil 1:6  "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"  This verse gives me hope that no matter how many years have passed without resolution of the trials of my life, it's not over until it's over!  I haven't died yet!  And there are occasions when death IS the culmination and ultimate victory.  I think when you have a life of hardship you have a greater appreciation of the joy that waits after this physical life.  I am so ready to go whenever God gives the word!  I don't want to rush the end of my earthly life just to escape (though that thought has crossed my mind!) but because I am really looking forward to seeing my friend, my Father and the love of my life.  In the meantime, God has a plan and He will never stop working toward it's completion.

James 1:2-5  "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."   Wow -- count it all joy.  Do I do that?  I have to admit that I often do not view my trials with joy.  But when I choose to focus on the truth, as Phil. 4:8 admonishes the result is joy.  Phil. 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  We see this modeled repeatedly throughout the Psalms.  David is brutally honest about his feelings but he always comes back around to the truth of who God is and what He has done.  David ends up full of joy regardless of the circumstances.

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