… Rejoice always.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Trouble comes to us all, saved or unsaved. But people react differently.

We know that the same sun that bakes bricks melts butter. Adversity causes some people to become embittered and hardened, to become hateful toward God and man. Others it sweetens and softens and enriches.

The world finds it very, very strange that even in the midst of the most painful circumstances, there can be rejoicing. In fact, Paul tells us that we can be sorrowful and rejoice at the same time: “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

Regardless of the pain of the circumstances, there can be deep-seated joy. In the midst of an illness, at the very nadir of my experience, a time when I was in such pain that I absolutely did not know what to do and tears were coursing down my cheeks, I could honestly say to my wife, “I yet believe that God is good and will lift me up out of this.”

What kind of problems have you had this past week? Did you face them like Paul, or like the world faces them? How do we deal with our problems? Faith comes from our realization that God is with us, whatever the problems we may face. When we face them, do we become better or do we become bitter?

Question to ponder:
Are you going through a difficult time? Can you find something to thank God for in the midst of your adversity?