DAY 183 -- Joy?

As I pause as a father of six kids, I often observe the trials and challenges each one is going through.  One is struggling with unemployment. One has health issues.  One has struggles with having children.  One has a real challenge having their  parents live with them. As a loving, caring father, if I could I would help each one overcome these obstacles.  That is what we pray for each day. 

However, if I did that I would destroy the purpose of these challenges in their lives.  For our Father knows about all these challenges, and He is also their Father and does not joy in their struggles.  There is divine purpose in all of them.  I would just destroy His purposes. 

I guess that is where "endure to the end" comes from.  No  matter our trials, no matter our prisons, we have them for a reason, a method of teaching lessons.  Then I ponder about 2 Nephi 2:25.  "..man is that he might have joy."

As I begin this day, I would like to have joy in my life.  I struggled all night long about some things and as I crawled out of bed, those thoughts and challenges started to fill my mind.  As my train of thought pursued that track, joy was no where to be found.  I was totally occupied with the upcoming day and the many things I have in front of me to do.

So, can I have joy today?  Do the scriptures mean that man is that he might have joy if he has no trials to conquer?  Or does this scripture mean that the Prophet "is" that he might have joy? 

As I sit here and ponder about what this scripture means, about how I am going to strive to have joy this day, I again realize that I am the master of my soul.  I can have joy!  I just need to realize that I can choose my attitude, my feelings of happiness, the things I choose to struggle about, I can choose to have joy no matter the circumstances.  It is all up to me.

But why?  Father wants us to be joyful, even through molding, teaching trials.  If we have joy, we will feel the Holy Ghost whispering to us and we will be able to endure better, learn faster, and overcome the struggles we all have daily.  (Easier said than done, right?)