Joy Regardless

An area in which I desire to grow is in the ability to have joy regardless of my daily situation or circumstances. It's a breeze to be happy when your team wins, "the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high." It's more of a challenge to be content and at peace when the ground yields thorns and you're eating "low on the hoof" rather than "high on the hog." A dear friend, Tom Gould, is in the midst of one of the most challenging times of his life, just having suffered the death of his wife, Jeanne, who was his dearest friend and the love of his life. Tom has been amazingly transparent and often posts the insights he is gleaning in his struggle in his long nights of the soul after Jeanne's passing. The scripture he cited from his devotion this morning ministered to me and I hope it does the same for any of you who may be in the midst of a time of struggle or challenge. Consider these words from the prophet Habakkuk: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feel like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on to the heights." Habakkuk 3:17-19. My prayer for myself and for you, my friends, is that the Lord might embrace you with his deep and abiding peace, and that you may know His joy in spite of what challenges today may have delivered at your doorstep. May God's grace shine upon you and may the light of His glory lift your head and give you strength - even on the most difficult and painful days. Grace, mercy and peace to you all! Sam