A Joyful Heart in Times of Trouble

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13

"If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" - Proverbs 24:10

Peace is not a brief moment of elation or relief. It is a long-lasting attitude, a commitment that you will remain positive even in the midst of trouble. Life goes up and down. There are times of abundance, and times of abasement. There is pleasure, and there is pain. A life without problems may seem perfect in your eyes, but is it really? What would you learn if you didn't have to overcome any hurdles? What would you learn if everything was always smooth and easy?

You become annoyed, frustrated, angry, depressed and even desperate at times... You become anxious and worry over things that you cannot change and you feel helpless, powerless. You wish you had more control over your circumstances. You wish you could erase all difficulties from your life. But obstacles make you wiser and more mature. They teach you patience and perseverance. They forge your character and add to your inner strength and fortitude.

You fight, you struggle... There is a war going on inside you, and it will last until you finally abandon your weapons of judgment, contempt, sarcasm and retaliation. Finally, you give in and surrender to your Higher Power. You begin living in harmony with your true self and you become who you're meant to be. You understand that only love is really; everything else is an illusion. You become ready to receive the precious gifts of acceptance and forgiveness... 

Times of trouble may come, but your inner peace doesn't need to be jeopardized. Things may not be running the way you want them. But your heart can remain joyful no matter what, as you know that nothing lasts forever, and that positive change is on its way. After the rain, the sun shines again. After you've battled uphill for what seems an eternity, you can finally enjoy the effortless downhill ride. Now you can just drift along while everything is falling into place.

With all my love,

Bella

Painting: "Three Pink Flamingos" by Jean Metzinger (1883 - 1956), France