Fifth Third Bank recently took over Comerica, and I was one of the unlucky folks unable to access funds, use my debit card, or even sign into my account. Standing in line a long time for assistance, I remembered that I needed to come home and write this blog about finding joy despite my circumstances.
At the time, I found that rather comical because, quite honestly, I wasn’t feeling particularly joyful. My current circumstances felt pretty awful.
A week later, I rolled my ankle, suddenly found myself immobile, and ended up in the Emergency Room. Two broken bones and a ruptured tendon later, that long wait at the bank suddenly seemed pretty trivial.
I know Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning,” but I can promise you – the only time I’ve shouted since then, was when I dropped an entire rotisserie chicken on my freshly washed kitchen floor.
So much for my shout of joy.
And then, I thought of Paul who understood finding joy in his circumstances so much better than I do, whose circumstances make my long waits and wasted rotisserie chicken ridiculously trivial.
It was in Paul’s smaller trials where his faith was strengthened, and he learned to find joy so that even after being beaten, ridiculed, and imprisoned, he experienced genuine joy because Christ – not his circumstances – was the object of his joy. Paul looked to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of his faith, who for the JOY that was set before him endured the cross.” Paul would tell us those smaller trials were worth it.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” Hebrews 12:2a
We have godly women in our church family who surround us with good examples of following in Paul’s footsteps – women who keep their eyes on Christ. PRAISE GOD for Paul, and praise God for those whose lives model for us what joy can look like when circumstances are anything but joyful.
Immediately I think of Linda Herhuth, who we all watched sing with arms lifted high, worshipping just one week after her husband passed. Linda says that as her faith has grown over the years, so has her joy. She believes the two are directly connected, and emphasizes how important it is to stay close to Him and remain in His Word. Linda’s life beautifully reminds us that joy isn’t dependent on circumstances. It flows from an inward reality: she knows and trusts the Lord – and so can we.
Cindy Humes says her and Bob’s joy comes from trusting God—a trust built through years of watching Him faithfully care for them through difficult circumstances. From family medical crises to the health struggles her husband now faces, they have seen God meet them again and again. Cindy says, “Trusting the Savior produces joy, regardless of circumstances.”
Then there’s Karen Kopchick, who honestly admits that sometimes joy is hard to find when the future feels uncertain. Yet she finds peace knowing that God is present and that He is ALWAYS good. When the “whys” begin to overwhelm her, she reminds herself that she doesn’t have to understand everything. Joy doesn’t mean pretending our circumstances are good. It means knowing WHO is good in the middle of them.
Our circumstances may pale in comparison to the challenges these ladies have faced, and certainly those of Paul. I know mine do. But we should heed the wisdom of Paul, Linda, Cindy, and Karen.
One difficult circumstance at a time, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, encouraging one another in the valleys, and trust the One who began a good work in us – and promises to carry it through to completion, and it is there that we will surely find joy.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
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