Glimpses of Joy

If we change our perspective, we just might catch a glimpse of joy

Photo by Peter Conlan on Unsplash

They told me life was about perspective.

I never believed them.

Let’s start from the beginning. What is perspective? A quick Google search tells me that perspective is “a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.”

How then can life be about perspective? What does my attitude or point of view have to do with difficult life events like broken relationships and financial losses?

If I have a positive attitude, will I experience fewer negative life events? I think not. And so, the saying that life is about perspective was completely lost on me.

Until I understood that my life is shaped by how I see and respond to everything that happens to me. That is perspective.

I’ve come to learn, mostly from the Apostle James, that joy is not found only in the absence of difficult life events. When I am going through challenges, I can find encouragement and joy, knowing that they are building a better, stronger version of me.

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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2–4

If I see it properly, and let God use the tough times to grow me, a more mature version of me will eventually emerge.

Now that is something to smile about.

While suffering has a temporary home, joy has a permanent home

I’ve also learnt from Apostle Paul that what we face in this world, as difficult as it is in the moment, is momentary. When I choose to do right and live with integrity, and it costs me a business deal, I can find joy knowing that a greater, joy-filled reward awaits me.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17 — 18

No sacrifice is wasted. If we give something up to walk as God instructs us, it adds up to something beautiful in eternity.

We can find joy even in difficult moments when we have the right perspective. Tough moments can grow and remind us that a greater reward awaits us once this season is past.

© Linda Ndungu