When you face various trials...

Funny my blog is called Count it all Joy.

And funny that in this season I am doing a study on the book of James. 

Not all that funny...it's just really real. And right now in this time, I am learning a whole other depth to what it means to count it all Joy. 

Coming back from overseas a couple of months ago, I was quite tired and ready to rest. I took a trip home, got a newer car...took the drive back, and on they way started to really not feel the best. Had plans to go to Florida a week later to see my friend Alicia before taking some time to go on our 30th Anniversary cruise for YWAM Denver. Both Florida and the cruise I was sure would be quite restful. And in so many ways they were. I spent a lot of time in the word of God, journaling and in fellowship with a few friends. In the midst of this, I kept feeling more and more ill. 

I had gone to he natural doctor who has been treating me for Candida and she had seen some parasites in my blood and put me on a herb to kill them off. But as I was on the trip I realized I think I need to get more testing. Unfortunately, the medical field and natural field are so often at odds,  it was difficult to convince the doctor I needed testing. But managed to...tests came back positive. Was treated- with an antibiotic. In total now I have seen 5 doctors, been on 5 antibiotics...and feeling quite worn out. 

I was working as much as I could...which went from about 4 hours a day to about one. Kept thinking after this medicine I should be better. Finally. This last weekend, my mom and dad said "maybe you should come home for a while." Something inside of me melted and I knew it needed to happen. 

So where is all the joy you ask? I am still learning myself. The joy is in the relationships of the people around me and not in the circumstances. Right now my joy is that Jesus is seeing me through it..though I admit I've grumbled at him and cried out my fair share of times I am believing that I will come out of this knowing Him more. It's difficult to be a place where I need to say I need you, I can't do this by myself. (Not just to The Lord, but to others). 

The joy has been found in my roommate Sarah who who would pray for me when my head was spinning or I would wake up in the night feeling miserable. Her kindness to make me dinner or bring me tea. My joy has been in countless friends who have taken me to the doctor, gotten me groceries, brought me flowers. It's in my dad taking the time to say he will come and bring me home. 

For a while I kept trying to look backward and see joy in what could be. And I do believe one day joy will be more complete. When the whole slum in India knows Jesus. When people in every nation we visited are worshiping Jesus and the throne, we will see it's worth it all. 

Another Joy I have found is in praying for others, I am thankful for the notes and requests I have received and know that The Lord is answering. And to know I am surrounded in prayer is a joy. 

I have an incredible community here who has said please, rest, get well. So with this release I am going home for a while...and do just that.  

Sometime I will share more about our time in the slum in India. God has not let me get their faces out of my mind in the midst of all of this.