Life is hard.
Jesus literally promised His disciples that they would have troubles in this world (Mathew 16:33). And Peter told his audience not to be surprised at the fiery trials (1 Peter 4:12).
Obviously, trials and troubles and heartache in this life shouldn't surprise us. We live in a fallen world full of broken, sinful people. We're not perfect, and no one around us is. There's sickness and death and heartbreak.
And yet, we are called to rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16). We are called to run the race before us with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). We are called to not be afraid (Joshua 1:9).
How can we do that? We're not nearly strong enough, or perfect enough. We don't always make the right choices, and we definitely don't always rejoice. We get scared and lose courage, and sometimes, we just want to give up in the race because it's so, so hard.
Rejoice Always
How can we rejoice always when death suffocates our lives and we can see the pain of the world broadcasted on every TV and news report? How do we find joy in a world that looks like it has nothing to give us joy in?
We look at people like Corrie ten Boom and Glenn Cunningham and Joni Eareckson Tada and see their joy even in their suffering, and wonder how they do it.
And the answer is they don't even look for joy in this world. It's true - there is nothing in this joy that in and of itself can bring us joy. Nothing. But if we look for joy in the future and our future glory in Christ and a coming day when He will wipe away all our tears, then we can find joy.
Find joy in a sunrise not because it's pretty, but because it reminds us of God's faithfulness, and that His mercies are new every morning. Find joy in two feet of snow not because that's easy or "nice" but because it reminds us that God is always taking care of us, and will be with us, even if we're trapped inside.
In prison, Corrie found joy in her lice-filled cabin because she could hold a Bible study without the soldiers barging in. And yet that joy stemmed not in the Bible study, but in the fact that she could be sharing the love of a Saviour that has taken care of her, even in concentration camps and in prison and in a lice-filled bed where she could sing His praises because He is good, no matter what.
Glenn found joy as he learned to walk again, not because of his strength or his stamina, but because it reminded him that God would never give up on him, and God was his strength, and even if he could do nothing, God could.
Joni found joy in being able to tell her amazing story and minister to people all across the world through being paralyzed not because it was just an amazing story, but because it showed how God was faithful and in control of even a terrible situation. She found joy in being able to encourage and bless millions of people and turn them to the Savior that never left her side, no matter if she was standing or not.
This world is full of horrible, horrible things, but we don't look for joy in this world. We look at this world through the lens of being saved by a beautiful, wonderful grace, and see God's love and care and goodness, even in the bad and the terrible.
Instead of trying to find something to make you "happy" in this world - which will never really work - look out of this world at the Savior Who came down and made us clean and healed us.
And look at the good and the hope in things, instead of always focusing on the bad. God is here, in this place, waiting for us to look for Him.
Joy is not something that just happens, it's a choice. Choosing to look for joy instead of letting the weight of the world pull you down. Choosing to remember God's faithfulness and grace and love, and that His ways are often not our ways.
We have been commanded to rejoice always, and God would never command us to do something that is impossible - nothing is impossible with Him. And as Christians and children of God, with the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can rejoice always, no matter what, by looking not in this world for it, but in God.
Run The Race
We have also been called to run the race. Called to keep going and keep persevering, serving His children around us and glorifying Him.
But, we are not called to do it on our own.
He specifically says "you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Philippians 4:13). And that "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Mathew 26:41).
We are sinful human beings. We mess up and make mistakes and get tired.
But, like I said above, we are commanded to run the race set before us. And God doesn't command us to do anything we can't. In fact, He says you can... but in Christ.
We can get up every morning and make breakfast for our kids with a smile even when we just want to lay back in bed, not in our strength, but in His. We can go to school every morning loving on the people around us and glorifying God in everything we do not because we're just that amazing, but because He's just that amazing.
And He wants us to run to Him. He wants us to cling to Him when life is hard and we don't know how to do it because his power "is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We aren't supposed to be strong and perfect because He is for us. And He wants us to rely on Him.
Our failure and our weakness glorify Him. Our falling shorts show how far He comes for us.
He calls us to run the race, but He's right there, running with us - carrying us most of the time. And He loves to be with us because, in our weakness, He is glorified. In our failing, he is perfect.
So even when the race is hard and you just want to roll over and skip your devotions in the morning, remember that He is there with you as you do the laundry or write or do your devotions.
You don't have to do it alone, and His great joy is when you stop trying to make it yourself and just let go and lean on Him. That is when He is most glorified, and His power is so wonderfully shown.
This race is hard, but you're not running it alone. He is there for you, ready to catch you when you fall and help you get back up again. And love you every step of the way.
Do Not Be Afraid
And finally, though not the only other thing we have been called to, we are called to have courage and not be afraid.
Not be afraid of the unknowns or the future, "for He is with you." (Joshua 1:9). Not be worried, because "is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Mathew 6:25).
There is nothing that can happen to us that is not a part of the Lord's plan. There is nothing that will take us away from Him, or change Him or His love for us.
What would we be afraid of?
God has everything under control, from the food you're eating to the world's politics. And even when it's hard to trust and not be afraid, it's a command. And I'll say it one more time, there is nothing God commands us that He has not given us the power to do.
We can trust not because of us, but because of the Holy Spirit in us, guiding us and helping us. We trust in God and have courage not because of anything we have done or can do but because of Who He is and what He has done.
God is good, and He is faithful, and we can trust in that even when we don't understand and the world looks like it's falling apart and we question whether God is still in control.
He is.
And He loves you.
So you don't have to be afraid or discouraged or worried. He's got you. Rest in that promise. He has got you.
And When Life Is Hard
Rest in Him.
Rest in His love for you and the joy He has given us in every sunset and sunrise and budding flower and snowflake. Rest in His perfect plan for you and the fact that He is in control. Rest in the fact that it's not your strength, it's His.
Whether you're struggling to get through the dreaded valleys of January and February, or it seems like household chores are piling up in a never-ending flood of do this and do thats and you're just so tired, God is your strength, He is your joy, and He's got you.
Whether you're trying to push through school or writing that first draft of your work in progress, or you're in a grueling season of work and it seems like there's no end, God will be with you and He cares about every little detail of your life.
Whether you're suffering heartache or loss, or wishing this world wasn't so hard and broken, God is still in control and you can still rejoice in Him.
Life is hard, but God is good. This world is heavy, but God is stronger. This world is scary, but God loves you and is with you, no matter what.
You can keep running the race and rejoicing and having courage because of Him.
You can keep pushing through the hard parts of life because we have been called, and commanded, to rejoice always, run the race, and have courage. God is with you, He loves you, and He has a plan.
What more could we ask for?