Persephone supervising Sisyphus in the Underworld, Attica black-figure amphora (vase), c. 530 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen

It’s hard to think of trials as being welcome parts of your life. We’d all like to experience smooth sailing, right? Or, to mix metaphors, wouldn’t you like to be able to avoid the inevitable roadblocks that come as we traverse life?

The sad truth is that many of us let our circumstances rule our happiness. You know the drill:

• Your family isn’t getting along.
• You’re getting your butt chewed at work.
• You are in a relationship that is rapidly headed south.
• You face a nasty health issue, either with yourself or someone you love.
• You’re in a funk and can’t figure out why.

And so forth. You can make your own list. You find yourself on an emotional roller coaster, unable to find joy or peace because life has turned sour.

So. Let me share two roadblocks on your road to joy, and some potential ways to remove them. Then I’ll pass along a couple of parts of a battle plan.

1. Hiding your hurts behind a fake smile. This is a tricky one, because no one wants to keep company with someone who’s face radiates sorrow. On the other hand, no one likes a phony. The balance comes when you are able to grieve appropriately when hurt comes. It can be healthy to tell loved ones what you’re feeling. It’s all about authenticity. You can be a very private person, and think that expressing hurt is a sign of weakness, but it’s just keeping it real. In Romans 9 the apostle Paul said, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” That’s some pretty raw stuff there, and he felt secure enough to let others know. Again, be sensitive and discreet, but it may just be that you being real can be an encouragement to someone else in the same place.
2. Never feeling down. Give yourself permission to have a bad day! It isn’t necessarily a sign of weakness to have those days. I’m not sure of the science and physiology of this – Google it if this gives you a buzz – but I’m thinking that there are natural biorhythms in each of us that contribute to how we feel. Think about the natural ebb and flow in nature – summer yields to fall. The tide comes in, the tide goes out. The sun rises, the sun sets. And so forth. It seems reasonable to believe that we are subject to those same rhythms and seasons.

Jesus wept. So if Jesus wept openly, then we shouldn’t be afraid to express our sorrow. But it’s one thing to express emotions, and quite another to be ruled by them.

That’s a couple of roadblocks. But if we want to master our circumstances and experience joy, we need to think about trading all the “stuff” – sorrow, pain, betrayal, etc., for a deep peace and joy.

If you want that quality of life, however, there has to be preparation for battle. (Thought it would be easy, did ya?) Here are two strategic components of a plan:

1. Don’t get caught off guard. This should be self-evident. For some reason – I don’t know if its because we are Christians and feel privileged (and we are indeed blessed) – we subconsciously assume life will be perpetually grand. We look at grief, disappointment, and sorrow as unwelcome intruders. Well, guess what, pilgrim – that’s part of what we signed on for when we were born. As a believer in Christ, I gotta tell ya – somewhere along the way, I was shown a false picture of the Christian life. I had times of letdown (okay, full disclosure – sometimes I still feel let down). But it was the perception of the Christian life, not Jesus Himself, that let me down.
2. Prevent unnecessary troubles. I won’t spend as much time on this one, but it’s simple: There is enough grief in the world. Why make things worse by bringing it on yourself? I mean … if you expose yourself to sin, if you visit that website, if you hang out with losers, if you have a rebellious spirit, if you watch that show on HBO or Netflix, if you drink yourself into stupid, don’t go whining, asking “Why me, Lord?” God’s been at His job a long time, and if He warns us against certain behaviors or mindsets, it’s because He knows what self-destruction is. He wants to save you a lot of grief.

The apostle Peter wrote the following, in 1 Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you …”. He wrote this, scholars believe, during the persecution of Christians by Nero around 64 AD. Rumor was that Nero burned Rome to the ground and blamed Christians. Christians were arrested, tortured, and murdered. They were dressed in animal hides and torn up by dogs. Others were crucified. Others were doused in tar, hung on poles, and set on fire to illuminate Roman streets. So – why should we think our lives should be easy?

Living for Jesus doesn’t insulate us from hard times. We need to learn that so we don’t fold when hard times hit.

There’s plenty more to say; maybe I will later. For now, though, just know this: no matter how far you’ve traveled away from that road to joy, God still loves you and wants you back.