Consider This.

It just seems to me that beyond reason and beyond measure, somewhere past where we make sense of things, is where we can get a true glimpse of heaven.

It's in those times when we think, "When can our life just go back to normal?"

It's in those moments when we face those things we could just do without. Those things that hit you all at once--childhood cancer, pipes bursting, overwhelming responsibilities, surgeries, water-filled basements, missing friends and family so bad your heart feels like it might burst, cabin fever, judgement, marriage struggles, frustrated students, work piling up, messy house that never quite gets caught up, the semi-neglected dog who chews the money straight out of your purse for hospital parking, rude people in the height of our suffering, bills to pay, missing church, toddler tantrums, never having time to run errands, not being able to go anywhere together as a family, fighting back tears when we think of what we're missing when we're away at work, rushing to the emergency room to battle fever, fighting with a parent who doesn't want to be in your life, losing a grandparent, business that can't move forward because of everything else stressful going on in life, wishing we can fix it when we just can't--it all piles up, and can be the weight of the world. 

Sitting right there on top of our shoulders. 

Growing heavier by the minute. 

Trying its hardest not to just knock us down, but to crush us under its weight. 

But...

WE.

ARE.

CHILDREN OF THE ONE TRUE KING.

WE ARE STRONG.

                                     

WE PERSERVERE.

WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP.

WE NEVER STOP PULLING TOGETHER.

WE FIND PEACE IN FRIENDSHIP.

WE KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER.

WE FIND BEAUTY IN LITTLE THINGS.

AND WE NEVER EVER LET IT SHAKE US SO BAD WE FORGET TO SMILE.

YES, LORD. WE CHOOSE JOY.

IN ALL THINGS.

And for this, we are abundantly blessed.

PRAISE GOD for these countless blessings of PURE JOY.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.