When people ask "Where do you want be in 10 years?" many things come rushing to my head, including having a job, being married, living life, but most importantly, I just want to be happy. Joyful no matter the circumstances. It seems one of the truest desires of man to have happiness. God brings us much joy when giving us various blessings, but have you ever thought that sometimes joy is not something that just comes to us, it is something we have to choose?

"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." -James 1:2-4

God doesn't always give us exactly what we want and sometimes it's the complete opposite, but in that we can find joy in suffering. That sounds ridiculous, I know. How are we supposed to be joyful when life seems to be throwing us into a storm of uncertainty, doubt, and failure? Yes, it is in these troubling times when we need to use some strength and choose joy.

And that is because our true source of joy went through a trial much worse than anything we will ever have to face, and he chose to do it for you.

"But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." -1 Peter 4:13

You see, we once had a perfect world, because God himself is perfect, and he created everything perfectly. This was until sin was brought into the world by man, and we were separated from God. He was untouchable, and we were dirty in sin. God didn't like this at all, and in that, He came up with a solution. He was going to sacrifice His own son for the sake of humanity. God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to come and live a life on earth. Jesus was God in human form, and He lived a perfect life. He performed miracles, healed the sick, and never sinned once. He was then summoned to be crucified by the Roman soldiers. This is where the real suffering comes in. In those days, crucifixion was meant for the worst of the worst criminals, the murderers, and the killers. The criminal was to be nailed to a cross, hung there to die. Jesus had to endure a death that no person deserves, and He was completely innocent. He had the power to save himself and take himself off of the cross, but He chose not to because He knew this was God's will for Him. But the story doesn't stop there, Jesus rose up from the dead 3 days later, defeating death and later ascending into heaven! Oh, what a Savior! It is now our time to shine. Our time to grow in our faith, by following in Jesus' footsteps and living a life worthy of the Gospel.

One way to do that is to rejoice in sufferings of all kinds because all of our sufferings make us that much stronger. God calls us to find joy in the lowest of times because we can be glad and rejoice when God's glory is revealed when we overcome battles of our lives! What a conviction and truth, to see our problems are much smaller than we think, and that we should rejoice in them! We have a God that was willing to sacrifice His son for us and that loves us beyond measure in all that He has blessed us with, why aren't we rejoicing in just that simple truth??

The problem and struggle in your life is tiny compared to the suffering that Jesus took on on the cross. I challenge you to find joy in your sufferings and find your joy in Christ alone, because when it comes down to it, He is all that we really need. Be thankful for His love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Choose to have joy daily in all circumstances, and I promise your heart will be much fuller.

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecuttions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:10