It's Not That Bad

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3

A little boy asked his mom for a popsicle on a hot summer day. She gave it to him. He left the kitchen with a hop-and-skip, popsicle in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Sometime later, his mother went outside to check on him. When he saw her, he came running up to her. He hugged her and went to play. As he turned around, his mother noticed the popsicle had melted in the empty water glass. She said, "Oh, son, your popsicle melted. Do you want another one?" He replied with a smile, "No, Mommy. It's okay. It's Kool-Aid now," and went on his way. The bad is not always that bad. Not every wonderful life lesson comes from ice cream and candy canes. The "bad" things in life often bring us the best lessons and great maturity. Although they may be complex and tiresome, they can still benefit us greatly. So, count it all joy when you face various trials. See the good in all things.

As a child full of imagination and wonder can see something like melted ice cream as a cold glass of sweet milk or a mud puddle as a mud pie factory, we too can see life with such innocence and wonder. The evil and darkness in the world take the wonder and imagination out of us. As adults, we begin to think, “Life just doesn’t work that way.” We mock those who still live in that wonderland.

Oh, how do we have it wrong? This world is full of good and wonder. Just look at creation. It is full of wonder and beauty that goes beyond words. God called it good. However, have you ever tried to summit the Rockies? I promise Hoover vacuums do not hold a candle to your ability to suck wind on that pursuit. The trials in life teach us Kool-Aid is just as good as a popsicle. Rain is just as needed as Sunshine. It’s the rainy days that develop in us something sunny days can’t. These uncommon unforeseen differences in our lives that seem to plague our true plans and goals bring back the curiosity that comes with wonder and imagination.

They make us whole. They complete us. Yes, it's messy. Have you ever seen a laundry room after a mud fight? Ever seen sticky handprints all over the bathroom? Ever seen a dirt and filth-covered kitchen? Have you ever seen the joy and smiles on a child's face? You can play football in the rain and the sun. They both bring their fun, difficulties, and growth. They both bring joy. Popsicles or Kool-Aid, it's still good on a hot summer day. You can’t see the beauty of the Rockies without reaching the summit. With trials comes joy, growth, and newness. You cannot have one without the other. I suppose in the end it's just all how you look at it, isn’t it?

-Steve Johnson

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