This describes my feelings over the past 6 months perfectly. It has been a privilege to pray and study God's word. I would not have been this close to God without the suffering. God wanted me closer to Him and that is truly all joy.
Excerpt from John MacArthur's New Testament Commentary on James 1:2:
"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3
"The more we rejoice in our testings, the more we realize that they are not liabilities but privileges, ultimately beneficial and not harmful, no matter how destructive and painful the immediate experience of them might appear. When we face trials with the attitude that James admonishes, we discover that the greatest part of the joy is drawing closer to the Lord-the Source of all joy- by becoming more sensitive to His presence, His goodness, His love, and His grace. Our prayer life increases, as does our interest in and study of the Word, and in each of those ways our joy increases all the more." (page 21-22)
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