Joy Comes in the Morning
When I look at the best parts of myself, I always remember the hardest parts that got me here. How good times only exist because we know what bad times are like. We know what success is because we've seen failure. We know what joy is because we've seen pain. These are all crutches of the human experience that make us alive.
In this series, "You Will Rise," we have confidence that whatever we may be going through, we will never be down for too long. We can't look back and have joy that we overcame trials if we never have trials. That's why when going through difficulties, we smile in the face of it all. Knowing that we will rise. Knowing that "weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5, BSB).
Tough times will never overcome us, but we look at the One who's walking with us through it all. There's a different kind of smile that comes after hardship. The tears, the peace, the joy, and most importantly, who you became on the other side of it.
Sanctified
It reminds me of the sanctification process. When we accept Jesus, but still need time to deal with our sins and struggles. That process is known as sanctification. The timeline of that process varies from person to person. Probably the hardest part of it was giving up every part of myself that I was so comfortable with. But I look back with pure joy that I came out on the other side SANCTIFIED.
I sometimes ask myself, where would I be if I didn't go through the process? Would I have accomplished all of my hopes and dreams? What type of person would I be? Then I feel irreplaceable joy that Jesus separated me from that path to set me on a path towards Him. Maybe I would've had it all. But would've lost my soul. Chasing inadequate things that I will leave and will also leave me.
Always Becoming
The joy of overcoming isn't just that you're finished with a certain trial. It's that you're becoming the exact person Jesus needs you to be. Who knows how long that may take. And who knows if there's even an end. I'll always be becoming when I want more of Jesus and less of myself. But there's a joy knowing that Jesus is working on me. Knowing that I'm becoming better equipped for more.
We must get something from our pain. Whether it be a lesson or a change, it should better us as we walk in this life. James 1:2-4 makes a bold claim that we should have joy in our trials and tribulations. To gain one perfect attribute: patience. To not need anything on this earth.
Reading the Bible has completely changed my outlook on life. It now reminds me that hardships are actually the best things that can happen in my life. Times and seasons are in the hands of God. But we can have joy in everything we overcome. Don't try to force yourself to do it alone, but remind yourself you will come out on the other side even better.
Already Won
Even death was conquered by Jesus. Something I used to have a fear of. Conquered. And on the other side of this life is Him. What a powerful thing to know that even our greatest fears have been overcome. We can just have joy that we will overcome. That God counted us worthy of these trials, to hop on the other side stronger.
So, hop on the other side stronger. Joyful. Excited. Grateful. Hopeful. Face all of it head-on, knowing that the battle is already won. It's only a matter of time.
To the ends of the earth,
Isaiah Abraham
