Can You Find Joy in One Trial After Another?

Sometimes life seems like it’s just one trial after another. How can we learn to cope and thrive?

Will the Trials Never End?

“It looks like your incision has an infection,” my physical therapist told me.

“I wondered about that,” I said.

“In fact, you should drive over to your doctor’s right now and ask them to check it out.”

Her urgency startled me a bit. But as I looked at the angry red surrounding the incisions from my ankle surgery, I decided I should listen to the professional.

As I drove to the orthopedic surgeon’s office, I couldn’t help but bemoan this latest development. It seemed as if 2021 had turned into one trail after another. I had covid in January, ruptured my ATFL (anterior talofibular ligament) mountain biking in February, had surgery to repair the damage in March, and now April brought a possible complication.

Sure enough. I had an infection. A round of antibiotics, a fever, an expensive ER visit, a second round of antibiotics, and the infection eventually cleared up. Yep. 2021 presented one trial after another.

But it didn’t steal my joy. Why not? Because I kept the words of James 1:2 in the forefront of my mind throughout all those difficult days.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4 NIV

God had a reason for allowing me to go through one trial after another. I may never know his reason this side of heaven, but I can trust him. Finding joy through one trial after another takes perseverance and perspective.

Find Joy Despite One Trail After Another

I’ve had times of one trial after another in my life before, and I’ve chosen to see the bad and the ugly. To feel sorry for myself and bemoan my burdens. My attitude did nothing to help me through the trials. Instead, it made the burden more unbearable.

My attitude determined my latitude—*sinking under or rising above. I can choose to count my blessings and smile, or I can choose to lament my losses and frown. I don’t have to LIKE any of the trials, but I can still choose joy.

What will you choose when the next trial looms?

*If you feel so sunk under that you can’t see a way out, please seek help. You may have a chemical imbalance or need professional help from a licensed therapist.