Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3
We started month 4 in Cambodia. Cambodia in Christmas! Or so we thought. Not a week into our ministry unfortunate circumstances occurred, so we packed up, and headed to Thailand. Three teams from V Squad now in Bangkok, Thailand….together for Christmas!
…..or so we thought.
After decorating our rooms with lights, garland, and window decals we found out that the three teams would be split, and sent out to other locations for the next 10 days of ministry….such a short lived dream.
So my team an I headed out to the jungle. It was cold during the mornings and nights, hot during the day, sleeping arrangements were crowded, and our days were long and jam packed. On top of that our church was held in a makeshift living room/bedroom/laundry room. A room that had walls made out of a chicken wire fence and the floors were cold concrete….where less than 20 people piled in and sat shivering through the Message.
We were given one “off day”….Christmas Eve….where we had to ride an hour in the back of a truck to the nearest wifi location….that was closed….then drive to the next wifi hopeful spot….that was closed….then the next one….closed. An off day that turned more into an “errands day”….rest didn’t exist.
Through all of this….I chose joy….and continue to choose joy. Because this is my life. This is what I signed up for. I signed up to have the Lord push me. I signed up to experience things that were out of my control, and out of my comfort zone. I told the Lord that I was all in.
So there was joy in leaving Cambodia early….knowing that the Lord was using this moment to teach me about my walk with Him….even in the darkness. There was joy leaving the other teams to spend Christmas with the closest thing to my family that I have right now….just us. I chose joy riding in the back of the truck heading an hour into town….because I got to see the beautiful mountains and blue sky that God created. And even now with team changes and new beginnings….I choose joy.
Life is not always easy. Circumstances can just suck at times….but it’s up to me to determine how I want to approach each day and each event that happens in my life. Am I going to just sit in the mud and dirt and pout? No….I’m choosing joy in knowing that Jesus Christ has so graciously given me another day in which I get to seek Him out and glorify His name….whatever that may look like.
So how are you choosing to approach each day? When things just suck, and don’t seem to be going anywhere….what decision are you going to make? To sit in the negative….or choose? I encourage you to choose joy. What you put into each day is what you’re going to get out of it, and our Heavenly Father has given you and me another beautiful day to breathe….so take a deep breath and fill your lungs up once more.
