Faith brings joy. We get distracted by all the stuff right next to us because it's the closest to us. We have to remember God is near.
The hard times - life, work, circumstances, relationships - it's temporary. And the trials God brings our way don't just pile up against us - they are FOR us. The trials bring a hope of salvation that we could not otherwise experience.
Jesus dying on the cross seemed awful, but it was the best thing that could have ever happened.
Romans, Part 4 - Romans 5:1-11