Esther 9

And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,
21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,
22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.—Esther 9:20-22

There will come a day when verse 22 will come alive in each of our lives as believers.  No trial last forever and this world is not our home.  I don’t look forward to the actual process of dying, but I do look to that day when He will wipe every tear from my eyes.  On THAT day there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor pain.

It happens even now when God delivers us from trials.   Like the Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus, we rejoice!  Our sorrow is turned to joy.

I am so thankful that Jesus uses our deepest pain and sorrow to transform us into His likeness and through them bring us our greatest joys.  Warren Wiersbe says that He turns our trials into triumphs.  What a picture of the heart of our Father.  He even uses the inevitable and unavoidable sin and suffering of this fallen world for His glory and our good. How kind of Him...How good of Him...How merciful and compassionate of Him!  The way of suffering is the way of spiritual maturity.  So in your time of tribulation, look ahead...be mature...do not be short-sighted.  Remember Romans 8:28. Remember Joseph's hopeless situation...they meant it for evil but God meant it for good and brought victory.

The cross is the greatest example.  The darkest hour of history...the hour where Jesus suffered pain and agony unimaginable...became the brightest hour...the cross which previously had been accursed..became a symbol for hope, glory and victory.

We fight as those who have already won...Jon Courson tells us we begin at the finish line.  So be of good cheer!  

"These things I have spoken to you, that “IN Me” you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."—John 16:33