Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
He makes my feet like the deer's;
He makes me tread on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
This winter has been difficult for me, and the past three weeks have been especially hard. The lonely, stuck-in-bed days aren’t too bad at first, but in time they start to wear on me. It has been over a month since I have stepped foot out of our house. It has been three weeks since I have visited with someone other than the mail man. I grow weary of having to rest so much. I get lonely.
On days like these, joy is a struggle. I have to fight for it. It is easy to focus on my circumstances and think that I have it so hard. But do I really? No. I live a very comfortable life. Here are just a few things that make my life comfortable and easy:
- A soft bed
- A laptop
- Running water and indoor plumbing
- A recliner
- Plenty of pillows and blankets
- Internet
- Good books and movies
- Yarn to crochet when my hands are strong enough
- A good husband who loves me and takes care of me
- Children who adore me and are so patient with me on the sick days
The list could go on and on. I have been truly blessed! I have a good home and a comfortable life. Best of all, I have been forgiven of my sins and adopted into the family of God. The Lord has poured out His grace and mercy upon me, saved me from my sins, and given me a home in Heaven. Now that is a reason to have joy! I can take joy even on the hard days. I will choose to live a joyful life.
When I take my focus off of the hard things of life and start to look at the blessings God has given me, especially the gift of salvation, I find that the joy of the Lord is my strength! And the weak days aren’t so hard when the joy of the Lord is my strength.
