I’ve owned it for years… a little cross with the words from Nehemiah 8:10 etched on them.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Eight simple words. A little decorative cross that sat on my dresser for years and resides on a shelf in my classroom now.

But today, those words hold new significance as my heart absorbs them fully…

I can be strong in all circumstances, because I can lean on my Lord. And He is the cause of true joy.

I was born into a blessed situation. All the earthly blessings anyone could desire are mine.

I was raised in the church and gave my life to Christ in my teens, but the affluency I was accustomed to has shaped the way I look at life… until now.

When my dreams and desires don’t work out, it hurts.

People let me down, and my heart breaks with the injustice of it all.

It feels like there’s nothing good in this world, and I start questioning a lot of things.

It’s the most intense circumstances of our lives that shape who we are..

I recall my highschool teacher’s voice explaining that our paradigm is the lens through which we view life, and that our paradigms can shift with life experiences.

The pain of disappointment is enhanced because my paradigm has been wrong. I have held expectations of people and this world in general, that were not accurate.

Many times I’ve been told by well-meaning encouragers, “Life will get better. Good things will come.”

True… it won’t always hurt like this. But reality is, we live in a fallen world.

The people who have hurt me… are human. Why would I expect them not to fail? I fail. We are all just doing the best we know.

The blessings I long for, I am not actually entitled to.

God’s word tells us there is a reward promised for being faithful. I believe that fully. But the idea of life holding roses… yes, sometimes. But that is not actually promised.

God does delight in blessing His people, but reality is that evil exists in this world. And has the power to hurt us.

He could overthrow that, but sometimes chooses not to. He does promise to always be with us, and not even the most evil force can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:38-39)

A day is coming when God will win the war and be in full power forever – the victory is promised! He is waiting though, so we each have the opportunity to choose which kingdom we will be a part of.

It’s so clear now. I am not promised anything in life but Christ, and no reward on earth. But if I hold out faithful, I will be rewarded with eternal life where nothing can ever harm or hurt me again.

My paradigm has shifted, not without grief… but it will be healing.

“Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.” Psalm 73:25

The thought of Christ’s triumphant victory… contrasted with the desparate brokenness of this world… brings joy.

No matter what life holds, it is never hopeless. There is always hope – the only hope we’re promised, and a certain hope that Satan can never defeat.

Christ in me… the hope of Glory.

My heart is whispering a song again… “In Christ Alone, my hope is found, He is my Light, my Strength, my Song…”

Paradigm shifts are painful. But they are character building, if I allow the winds to blow me closer to my Shelter, God Almighty.