One of the most striking, and surprising, things about this journey I’m on are the raw, powerful “moments” or emotions that hit hard and out of nowhere. Many times, it’s little things that trigger these emotions. Sometimes they’re painful and sometimes they’re joyful.

Recently, Jamy and I started talking about hanging the Christmas lights on the house. She found a video where I am describing to myself for future reference how to hang the lights. When she showed me the video, I saw my legs and feet. A stark reminder of the irreparable damage that has been done to my body. I also realized I would never climb that tall ladder again to hang the lights—something I loved to do. The emotion unexpectedly overwhelmed me. I grabbed on to Jamy and shed some hard tears.

Conversely, when I pulled up to the office the other day, I thought to myself, “My ankle is feeling good and strong,” so I parked across the canal in the lot furthest from the building. And I didn’t use a handicap spot! As I got out of the truck, I took one step forward and it hit me hard—parking here, in a regular spot, was the first time I’d ever done that since we moved to the new office. I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude at how far the Lord had brought me and all the wonderful things He’s done the last year and a half to get me to this point.

These moments of both pain and joy have helped me make sense of 1 Thess. 5:16-18 on a difficult journey. How can I “rejoice always” with what I’m going through? How can I “give thanks in all circumstances” when my circumstances are so hard? How is all of this “the will of God in Christ Jesus for you?”

I can rejoice and give thanks in the really hard moments because of God’s compassion and care for me in those moments (Matt. 11:28, 1 Pet. 5:7). In the pain, I have His presence. In the joyful moments, I see His goodness. In all the moments, I see His will unfolding to make me more like Christ using both pain and joy. I have learned to always look for how God is using both pain and joy to point me to Himself.

For those in a hard season—grief, illness, deep difficulties, extended discouragement—accept the fact there will be painful moments that hit you out of the blue. And it’s OK in those moments to feel frustration, sadness and even despair. But don’t let those moments consume you or turn your outlook to bleakness. Know that moments of blessing, healing and growth are intermingled with the pain on your journey.

If you are a follower of Christ, know that every season, even the hardest ones, are being used by God for His glory and to build your testimony of His goodness and faithfulness every step along the way.

2 Cor. 9:8—“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

I pray that you and yours have a truly blessed Christmas!

Serving Jesus with You,
Todd Fisher