Oh, JOY!

God's ways are strange. While I trust them as much as I can without understanding what is going on, I often feel very...tossed up in the air? You know, scrambling about in mid-air with nothing to grab on to, seeing the various spots back on earth where I can be smashed into the ground, yet still knowing that somehow God is holding me up and will catch me if I think I'm really, truly falling.

Ok, maybe that's too much analogy. I'm rusty. Even my typing is bad at the moment.
What I'm trying to get across is this: When you find yourself in the midst of pretty much your worst-case-scenario type of event, call on the Spirit. The Spirit will help you keep your head above water so you can do this: COUNT ON God's blessings. Get ready to be staggered by His love for you. Prepare yourself for a joy that speaks directly to your heart, so that other people may be like, "well, yeah, I guess that is nice after you've gone through such a tough time" but you will be like, "Don't you SEE? My God has blessed me beyond compare! This joy far outshines those bleaker moments!"

I wouldn't dare compare any situation I've ever been in to Job's situation. However, I would suggest modeling yourself after him. The tougher the situation, the more we can immerse ourselves in God. He is our salvation, our hope, our JOY. And He will prove it!

This blessing I've been given- may it glorify my Lord and open the eyes and hearts of those who doubt my infinitely almighty loving Father!