Upbeat . . .

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only thatm byt we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perserverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has given to us." (Romans 5:1-5)

Tribulations - what are those? I am not sure how to describe them except that you will know them when you are in them. There are all kinds of tribulations and trials - maybe someday I will study what kinds there are. Some of them are from the devil, some are from the Lord, some are from the world, but most are brought on by yourself. So what do you do while you are in them? You perservere. Persevere towards what? Towards the goal and prize of the upward call. What in the world does that mean? Keep pushing towards God, towards wisdom and towards your true self by dying. That is what you do. I, obviously, have not mastered this, but I am going to keep trying, because I want character and more importantly - I want hope.