You can find joy in the midst of your dark valley, but only if you’re willing be there in it and not try to find an escape. One of the hardest times to be joyful is when your’re dealing with difficult problems and people that have you weighed down with pain—seeking solutions but finding none—and then several new difficulties come and present themselves. If you focus on finding a solution, you will sink under the weight of your problems and you’ll miss the joy found in the midst of it all. So it’s imperative to remember that Jesus is present with you in your pain and adversity. He has you where you need to be—holding onto Him and trusting Him to grow you through your valley. His wisdom and grace will enable you to find joy, even in the darkest times.
Finding joy in adversity is to encounter Jesus in the middle of the mess. As you separate what’s true from your emotions and the distorted thinking that the evil one fills your mind with and press into Him, you will begin to experience the darkness and heaviness of your circumstances lift. His light will fill your soul and His joy will lift up and you will be able to see more clearly and with a heavenly perspective.