One of the most powerful things we can learn in this life is to learn how to embrace troubles, life difficulties that come our way and do as James says...."to consider it joy when we face trials..." I know exactly what you are thinking, considering joy when life feels like it's falling apart all around you is absurd!! But, if it's in God's Word then I say we dare to live it out exactly as it says. We underestimate the power of God's Word every day we live by our actions and responses to the lives we live...so, let's dare to live differently and truly take God's Word and LIVE IT!!
For many of you who know me, there's one major battle I've fought with my whole entire life and that's my health. Since I was a baby, the enemy has chosen over and over again to fight me tooth and nail on my health. I had a horrible amoeba attack when I was 5, I started with migraines when I was 7, by the time I was in High School (boarding school), I was diagnosed with CHRONIC Mono, then at 16 I came down with Tendonitis where the Doctor's said I would never be able to play the piano again - I DON'T THINK SO!! Then, by the time I was 21 years old I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, went on disability for 1/2 a year, all the while struggling with migraines 3 weeks out of a month. Then, yes, I'm not done yet...I had emergency gall bladder surgery in 1997, in 1999, I started struggling with heart palpitations which I thought was due to having something wrong with my heart. This lasted for 4 years. By the time 2001 arrived, while living in Ireland, I became VERY VERY sick, so sick that I kept saying, "Whatever this is in me it's killing me." Come to find out, I truly was on my deathbed with a severe life threatening food sensitivity to MSG (monosodium glutamate). That changed my life forever!! As the Doctor said back in 2002, "There will come a day when you will be allergic to all preservatives, not just MSG." That day arrived April 2011. This makes my life very difficult for traveling because there's not a restaraunt I can eat at (except for 3), I have to cook all my own food from SCRATCH. I have to carry epipuns in case of a food reaction. The list goes on and on and on....BUT, not one time have I ever looked at God and said, "Why me!!" These trials of life will NOT get me down. Instead, I look at them face to face and say, I will live life to the fullest, with joy, and not let them bury me. I am happy to tell you that I was healed of tendonitis back in 1989, I was healed of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome back in 1997, and my migraines are down to maybe 2 a month!!!
That was a very short version of my life history...haha! But, I said all that to say this - Live your life, no matter what comes your way, what trials you face, what ailments hit you....live with joy knowing that the testing of these trials are only going to strengthen your faith in God and give you patience to endure what comes your way.
"My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need. But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind. Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord."
James 1:2-7 NCV
Never Giving Up.....
Tracee Lee
