Am I living in a nightmare,
with each day bringing new horrors?
Where pain is king
and each moment of rest is fleeting,
taunting me of what I do not have.

No!

No, I am living in a dream,
And each new adventure is a plot twist.
Because a King does exist
Who turns each trial to victory,
a taste of the joy that is to come.

Am I living in an insolvable maze,
with each turn sending me farther away from the exit?
Where chaos is king
and each possibility of escape is overturned,
dissolving into more confusion.

No!

No, I am living in a treasure hunt,
with nuggets of joy found all around.
Because a King does exist
Who turns puzzles into opportunities,
showing us the hope that we can have.

Am I living in a violent storm
with nothing more to offer than silver linings?
Where each lightening bolt brings me down
and silver linings don’t quite seem enough,
not enough to counter the unrelenting scorching.

No!

No, I am living in storm, not cruel,
and it gift-wraps emeralds, rubies, and bars of platinum.
I get hit on the way. It hurts so badly,
but my reward is greater and I might as well enjoy the view,
enjoy the beautiful light show and the fresh air and the cleansing rain.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us…And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:1-5, 11 KJV