Pure Joy?

    God was at work in me last night, and so was Satan. I had been telling my suitemate, almost in a mocking way, "I guess I'm supposed to considered all of this pure joy, huh? Yep, God- what a joyful experience this is!!" We went to my college's BCM and we began a new series...on the book of James. The first verse the pastor talked on was James 1:2-4... "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, lacking in nothing." We both just looked at each and laughed...she reminded me, "This isn't ironic, don't forget that."
It felt wonderful to let go of my pain during worship and give it to the Lord.
      But, as it seems to be a pattern, as I got back to the solitude of my dorm room...the lies began. I couldn't shake them off. I rebuked Satan with scripture, but it was too much to handle alone. I asked my friend who lives down the hall from me if she would come over. Sure enough, God provided again. Bundled up in pajamas and blankets, Jordan and Rachel knocked on my door at midnight. The three of us sat in my room, they let me pour my heart out, and spoke the same things I have felt God telling me. Rachel reminded me to "stomp on Satan!".
     So we sat in my room until 2 in the morning, and I was reminded all over again what a blessing it is that God has given us the body of Christ...those who will surround me at any time of the night with prayer and scripture...it's whats helping me through this time in my life. I can't do this alone. By 2am, we decided it was time for an adventure. It was time to get out of the dorm, get away from the sadness. So, Rachel, Jordan, Jessie, and I got up, in our pajamas and messy hair and ran full blast across the soccer field...oh, how good it felt to laugh! It was just so funny..imagine four college girls in their mismatched pajamas running and screaming across the soccer field at 2am..and we didn't even know why. We ended up going to Waffle House where we were just delirious and giddy over nothing. But, I knew God was showing me through our little 3am adventure that things are going to be okay...I am going to laugh again...I will feel the joy again...I will be okay.