How do we find joy in our trials?

Life is hard and full of so many challenges.  Do you sometimes I feel like you can’t face another one and question if it is really necessary?  Have you been there?  I have, and I look around at others and feel like their trials can’t be as hard as mine.  I wonder how I can be happy and find lasting joy.

I was reading in Hebrews and came upon this passage:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (italics added)

Hebrews 12:2

Did you see that?  Chirst who is the ultimate example of faith endured the cross because He wanted joy.  He didn’t worry about the shame, what others thought of Him.  Instead He knew that His ultimate joy would come from sitting down next to God.  He knew that in this life He would have the ultimate trial but that by enduring He would receive the ultimate joy!

To download a copy of this quote click here.

What if your vision was like that?  What if your vision was not about the here and now but about the eternities.  I do believe that we can have joy now but that true joy and happiness will come when we can tell God that we have endured our cross and then He will invite us to sit down with Him and Christ.