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Count It All Joy

Writer's picture: kateb78kateb78

Updated: Jan 26


Count It All Joy

By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar


I can’t convince you, nor can I make you believe. My purpose is not to force my truth into your heart, but to take the oil-based paints of the Creator’s grace and illustrate a vivid canvas of life a testimony born from the depths of my soul. This reflection, painted with colors of redemption, favor, mercy, miracles, and the smallest measure of my salt-grain-sized faith, is not crafted for vanity or applause. It is a humble offering to share what it means to endure the storm and still stand.


The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our Creator endures forever. Life is an intricate journey, a pilgrimage that none of us can traverse without encountering turmoil, trials, and tribulations. These are not merely obstacles; they are the tools of refinement. Like a seed planted in the womb of the earth, we must endure the darkness, the weight, and the uncertainty to stretch toward the heavens. Sometimes the seed is left without water, the ground may be unyielding, or storms may wash it away. Yet, even in dormancy, the seed holds potential.


Trials are heavy I can testify to that. They bend the back, buckle the knees, and make the soul cry out in anguish. I’ve walked through valleys where hope seemed distant, faced seasons where my faith felt fragile, and endured burdens that tested every fiber of my being. But to you, my fellow sojourner, I say this with every ounce of sincerity: count it all joy.


You might say, “Kateb, it’s easy to speak those words, but you don’t know the weight I carry my health, my finances, my family, my relationships, my job, my losses, my fears, my legal struggles.” I hear you, and I see you. I’ve walked roads paved with confusion, frustration, and pain. But even in the heaviest storms, I’ve come to know this: trials are not the end. They are the beginning of something greater.


The trying of your faith produces patience, and patience, when it has completed its work, makes you whole, lacking nothing. Trials are not meant to destroy us but to shape us. They strip away the unnecessary, refine the essence of who we are, and prepare us for the next chapter.


But let me remind you of something extraordinary: in the atmosphere of faith, miracles take place. Faith transforms the impossible into the inevitable. It unlocks doors no one can shut and moves mountains that seemed immovable. When the storm clouds gather and the winds howl, faith creates a sanctuary where the Creator's power and glory are revealed.


Our attitude in the storm determines the outcome. If we allow negativity to fester, it will consume us. But if we shift our perspective, if we anchor ourselves to the Creator, we will not only endure the storm but rise above it. My grandmother used to tell me, "Be of good cheer." Those words felt simple, almost naïve, when I was younger, but now I understand their depth. Cheer is not just an emotion; it is a choice a declaration of trust in the Creator’s plan.


When storms rage and waters rise, when the winds howl and the clouds darken, the world may look at you and see defeat. But let them also see you praising, meditating, and trusting. Let them witness the light in your heart, even when all seems lost. The world sees the storm, but faith sees the promise beyond it.


For years, I didn’t understand why hardship was my constant companion. I questioned the Creator, doubted His plans, and struggled to see the purpose in my pain. But now, looking back, I see how every trial became a stepping stone. The very hardships that threatened to break me built a foundation of faith so strong that even the fiercest winds could not shake it.


And in those moments of despair, when my faith seemed to falter, miracles still came. Not always the ones I expected, but the ones I needed. A closed door led to an open window. A broken path led to a new beginning. A desperate prayer became the fertile ground for blessings I couldn’t have imagined. Miracles thrive in the atmosphere of faith, where hope stands firm and trust in the Creator reigns.


To the realist, this may sound absurd. To the skeptic, it may seem like madness. But I tell you this: count it all joy. When your knees buckle, when your spirit feels crushed, when your tears fall like rain, remember that the Creator is not done with you. He is calculating your interest, preparing your reward, and working all things for your good.


Every hardship is a deposit into your future glory. Every trial refines your character, strengthens your resolve, and deepens your relationship with the Creator. Do not let the storm define you. Let it refine you.


The giants you face may seem insurmountable, but remember this: the bigger the giant, the bigger the target. Your trials have purpose. They are not random; they are intentional. They are the Creator’s way of preparing you for the next season of your life.


Gold is not purified without fire. It must be melted, and its impurities must rise to the surface to be removed. Likewise, we must go through the fire to emerge as the refined, radiant beings we were created to be. The storms, the struggles, the pain they are all part of the process. They are moving us from the workshop to the showroom floor.


Your life is better because of the trials, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. Trials teach us to lean on the Creator, to trust His timing, and to let go of our need for control. They strip away our ego, our pride, and our self-reliance, leaving us humble and open to His guidance.


So yes, I say it again: count it all joy. Not because the trials are easy, but because they are necessary. Not because the pain is pleasant, but because it has purpose. Not because the journey is smooth, but because the destination is worth it.


When you arrive on the other side of the storm, you will see the masterpiece the Creator has been painting all along. You will see how every brushstroke of pain, every shade of sorrow, and every splash of struggle contributed to a canvas more beautiful than you could have imagined.


The Creator is building our faith, integrity, and connection with Him. He is cleansing our hearts and preparing us for greater things. To reach the heights He has planned for us, we must endure the depths. To experience the glory, we must face the giants.


And when the atmosphere of faith surrounds you, miracles will manifest in ways you never thought possible. The storm may rage, but in the midst of it, blessings will pour down like rain. What others see as defeat, faith sees as a divine setup for victory.


My life is a testimony to this truth. I have been broken into fragments, yet the Creator has pieced me back together time and time again. I have been lost in the storm, yet He has always guided me home. I have faced trials that seemed insurmountable, yet here I stand, stronger and more certain of His promises than ever before.


The storm will not break you. It will build you. It will prepare you. It will elevate you. And when the winds cease, the skies clear, and the sun shines again, you will see that the journey was worth it. You will see the beauty of the painting the Creator has been working on all along.


I hope you can see the vivid picture I’ve painted today. A picture not of defeat, but of triumph. Not of despair, but of hope. Not of endings, but of new beginnings.


With love and faith,

Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar


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