Radiant YTH AdventSample

When life gets hard it’s easy for us to retreat. At the moment, running seems easier than pushing through and finding God’s purpose for our pain. Because of Jesus we know that we can find joy in every situation - not because the tough times are fun, but because they help us grow.

Think about how lifting weights or training for a sport builds up endurance and strength. Some days feel really natural, where conquering a challenge feels easy! Other days the practice might hurt, but overtime you get stronger, faster, and better. God uses those tough situations in our lives in a similar way. When we go through hard things, He’s present with us, using it to build up not just our endurance but also our patience and faith. Even when we don’t see it, He’s working and has a bigger purpose that might take us some time to see.

Joy in tough times doesn't mean we’re happy about our circumstances, but it does mean that we trust that God will bring something good from it. Maybe the outcome is more patience, more gratitude, or more understanding. When we look back we can see how those tough times helped us grow a stronger faith.

When we take hold of joy, it actually is a representation of the Fruit of the Spirit to those around us. Imagine what it would be like if the next time a friend is going through a tough time, you brought joy to the table. Your example of the Holy Spirit could be game changing!

• Bottom Line: Joy might seem impossible in hard times, but trials can strengthen us. God uses challenges to grow us.
• Response: Think of a tough time you’ve gone through and thank God for how He helped you grow through it.