by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance.  And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. James 1:2-4 TPT

As I pondered upon the admonition of Apostle James it dawned upon me that in troubled times and in the face of persistent difficulties, I have to make the choice, either to:

• crumble and sulk in self-pity; or
• see in them an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that I can.

You ask the question but how? One must of necessity recognise there is a difference between the joy described in Isaiah 9:3-9 (NLT/MSG/TPT), joy that is associated to attainment of great rewards or outcome as in plentiful harvest, as against the joy spoken to in John 16:23-28, 33-35 (TPT).
Indeed, God does and still gives the former, but that is not always the case. The latter, the enduring joy rests of knowing that you have someone you can run to, who listens and responds to all your supplications. This is the answer to depression, and the question is whether we are in this relationship that Christ came to establish!

The author of the letter to the Hebrews in Hebrews 4:16 (NLT/TPT/MSG) aptly describes it. Can you boldly approach? You can make it right today in establishing that relationship (Romans 5:10), and accept His offer of life (John 1:12-13). Shalom.