I grew up a preacher’s kid. I have several friends who grew up as a preacher’s kid as well and swore they would be homeless before going into ministry. Not me. I decided my freshman year of high school to go into ministry. My dad was great about showing me a little more behind the scenes ministry life when I told him I wanted to go to Bible College for ministry. Throughout the rest of high school, he tried to talk me out of it.

Now to be fair, he didn’t try too hard. I never remember him specifically saying, “I don’t think you need to go into ministry.” What he did was explain a particularly difficult season of life for the church. He shared how unreasonable people were being about silly things. He told me, “The best thing about ministry is people. The worst thing about ministry is people.” He shared with me things he normally kept from me so I would be aware of some of the difficulties in ministry. I remember asking him one time, “Is it worth it?” He replied, “Absolutely!”

With everything I experienced and heard from others about how difficult ministry can be, there’s nothing I’d rather do! A couple weeks ago we had Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Mechanicsville Church of Christ. Yes, it was a long challenging week. A couple additional events throughout the week, non-VBS related, made it additionally challenging. As I sat down Friday morning (what was supposed to be my off day) to put the final video together, there were a million other things I found myself wanting to do. Sleeping and Netflix were at the TOP of the list.

It didn’t take long before I was smiling. After digging through the hundreds of pictures and videos from the week, a joy bubbled up deep inside from the smiles of kids and adults having a great time! Adding the upbeat VBS background music was just icing on the cake! Before long, I don’t know if I’d say I was having fun, but I found a joy I couldn’t shake.

Too often we let the negative events bury the joys of life. Is any day perfect? Not many for sure! Does every day bring the potential for joy? YES!

Many do not fully understand the stress and difficulties of ministry. It’s not easy. We do not work one day a week. There are unfair expectations unheard of in any other professions. Just like any other job, it is not all sunshine and rainbows.

And there is still nothing I’d rather do!

There is incredible joy when someone accepts Christ. When lives are changed. When healing comes. When relationships are restored. When lives are made new. When the body of Christ comes around and supports each other. When these and hundreds of other victories over Satan happened. It makes all the struggles just a bit easier.

I’m convinced we too often allow the struggles to cloud the joy each day brings. No one controls how events affect you except for you. You can allow the pain and difficulties get the best of you and cloud your day. Or you can let them roll off your back and remember the joys of the day.

You may be looking at your life and unable to see much good at all. There are seasons, some longer than others, of extreme pain and sorrow that no one will ever understand. Let me challenge you to do one thing.

Find Joy.

Look for the joy today brings. Look for the little things that go right. Look for the little smile. Count the small victories which may be as simple as getting out of bed in the morning. Serve someone in a little way. It will not only pass joy to them, but it will give you joy in the process. Hold tight to the joy through Christ which is always available to you.

Before Christ willingly laid down His life for you and me, John 16:22 records Him saying, “Therefore you too now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.” (Emphasis added)

Don’t let others take your joy. Make sure your joy is not rooted in the temporary things of this world but the eternal promise of Christ in the Kingdom of God.