Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. James 1:2 NLT
A person’s value is not rooted in surroundings or in the sum of people’s opinions.
Everyone goes through seasons of hardship and frustration—situations that didn’t reflect our worth or merit in life. In those moments we have to remember to find joy in the middle of desperate situations.
Joseph was thrown into a hole by his brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely imprisoned. He could had given up in despair, but he found joy in his trial. Everything he touched, the Lord blessed. He received favor as a slave and favor as a prisoner. He was promoted from prison to second in command to the Pharaoh of Egypt. His story demonstrates God’s love for a person who was discarded by their environment.
But Joseph had to choose to work in those hard places for the Lord to bless him. We sometimes get discouraged by what’s ahead of us. We think our value is linked to our surroundings. Joseph was worth more than the prison he sat in for many years, but he had to find joy in his situation.
We cannot be moved by the small or insignificant things in life. Every oak tree started as a single seed, every skyscraper as an idea on paper, and every harvest in the fields as an empty field full of seeds. 
I’ve struggled with feeling insignificant because of my surroundings. I thought I had to be surrounded by thousands to validate my ministry and calling. But I discovered joy in the small and encouragement in the obscure. My worth is not wrapped in my surroundings but in the One who gave His life for me.
Joy can be found and great achievements made in any situation by identifying your source of joy in the midst of the trial and then putting your hand to doing good.
Discover your value in the unshakable love of the Lord and in His grace toward you.
