For all you Harry Potter fanatics like myself... In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Professor Trelawney asks Ron Weasley to read Harry's tealeaves. [Excuse the slightly sacrilegious Harry Potter reference]. Ron says this about what he sees in Harry's cup: "Oh yeah... well, Harry's got a sort of wonky cross... that's trials and suffering. And, uh, that there could be the sun, and that's happiness, so... you're gonna suffer... but you're gonna be happy about it..."
Beside that fact that Ron is most definitely not a fortune teller, I was reminded of his interpretation while reading my Bible tonight. [Ha!] I read Jesus Calling and lately God has been speaking to me about being joyful despite life circumstances. A line from what I read today (July 23) says, "Hold My hand in joyful trust for I never leave your side." It doesn't just say, "Hold My hand in trust..." It says, "Hold My hand in joyful trust...," meaning that I should trust God and be joyful in all things no matter what.
A Biblical example would be Paul, who had quite a rough life once he decided to follow Jesus. He, of all people, should be able to just say, "Forget it," and quit the whole "Jesus thing." But nope. In the midst of everything he was going through, he said, "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 AMP). He suffered, yet, was still happy about it, so he reminded the Philippians twice to rejoice. He didn't want them to forget that God is present and that they must gladden themselves in God's grace.
We, too, must rejoice. Life, for me, has been pretty crazy lately. However, I have no reason why I shouldn't give thanks to God and rejoice in Him. After all, He gives me breath each moment. No matter what I go through, I can joyfully trust that He is in control, that He will never leave me or forsake me, and that He is at work in all things! What an amazing Father!
Huh. Who woulda thunk that THE Ronald Weasley would give me a life lesson... :]
