God orchestrated many difficult trials for my family growing up; we experienced financial hardships, spiritual oppression, and persecution for many years of my childhood. While these hard times pressed upon us, my parents would bring us together, open God’s Word, and read the Scriptures where God shows believers how to respond to life’s trials.
One of my favorite passages on a Christian’s response to tribulation is found in Luke 6. God says in verse 23 that we are to rejoice and leap for joy when we are persecuted because “man shall hate you.”. I remember many years ago standing in our kitchen with my family talking about spiritual oppression in our lives. We were discouraged but recalling how God commands that when we stand in the face of trials, we are supposed to be rejoicing and literally–quite literally–be leaping for joy. One sibling stood up and rallied us together calling out, “Okay, if God says to jump up and down with joy, then let’s jump up and down with joy!” We immediately started jumping up and down, and, while we appeared a comical spectacle to most, we were laughing and smiling by the end of the physical exertion and simple obedience.
This memory has been imprinted on my mind ever since, and it is a fond reminder of how I should respond to the hardships brought my way today. As a believer, I am remembering to count it all joy–to happily jump up and down–when facing devasting circumstances. Upon receiving the news of Charlotte and Sophie’s diagnosis of a terminal disease, we were saddened but sought comfort from the Lord right away. Now as I am caring for my girls, God is continually bringing these verses to mind and sustaining me in joy through the wake of seeming tragedy.
I believe that the wrong response to hardships can eventually lead to perpetual grief, bitterness, anger, and depression. We need not harp on the tragedy of our situation nor focus solely on our daughters’ waning Earthly lives. Continually focusing on the Earthly devastation causes us to miss the blessings and gifts God is trying to give us.
We rejoice that our precious girls will be healed on Earth or in Heaven. We are joyful God chose us to care for Charlotte and Sophie, and we view it as a privilege to have this unique circumstance to testify of God’s goodness. We rejoice to have an opportunity to evangelize the lost through multiple hospital visits. We rejoice that we can share with others how the Lord is sustaining us though His never-ending comfort and peace. We are rejoicing because God is good all the time.
While this trial may be a case of life and death, I am thankful to have a Heavenly Father who brings the joy of His salvation while His mercies are new every morning. My prayer is only to continually rejoice in the face of testing; to count it all joy when life becomes difficult. Even now I am remembering to leap for joy. How great is our God, and how great is His faithfulness! Rejoice and be exceedingly glad that God is always only good.
– Bethany