Two years ago, I found myself very scared, yet determined, to take my kids on our annual camping trip, despite their dad not joining us and me knowing nothing about setting up or towing a pop-up camper eight hours away. With heightened emotions, many prayers, helpers, and lots of togetherness, we made it. Then we did it again the following year, still scared, but slightly more confident. This year, as soon as the cold weather broke, I had the itch to go camping (no pun intended). Last week, I decided two days ahead of time, to take the kids camping, by myself. Two years ago, I had to be taught how to hook up the camper to my car. This year, I taught my kids how to do it. Only God can change a person like that.

Despite the rain, lots of mud, and a few key forgotten items, we had an amazing time! I realized that camping produces in me a “survival can-do adventure” spirit. Oh, it’s raining so we can’t cook eggs over the fire…oh well. Guess we’ll just eat sandwiches and get an early start on hiking. (The interior cooking part doesn’t work on my pop up.) Oh, this trail is really muddy, but at least we have our water shoes on so we can wash off once we get to the water. Rain again? Time to play that new board game in the camper!

We can deal with any sort of lack during a camping trip because it’s temporary. We know we will have all the normal comforts in life shortly after the adventure ends. What if we viewed life like that? As an amazingly fun adventure that definitely has challenges and its fair share of lack, but is soon over and Heaven full of every comfort imaginable! Our earthly lives are so temporary!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

The above verse from the Bible talks about considering it pure joy when we face many varying kinds of trials. To continue the camping analogy, during a camping trip, when something goes wrong, that’s what makes the trip so memorable! “Remember that hike we went on where we all got stuck in the mud and then while washing our shoes in the creek one shoe went swimming down the river and you screamed and I ran out to get it…But we didn’t die! Let’s do it again, lol!”

Life is so not like that. When things go wrong, it definitely creates memories, but rarely good ones. It’s not the short-term loss of a shoe floating down the river, but the seemingly never-ending pain of a lost relationship. In camping, we might face a creature and fear for our lives, momentarily. But in real life, a devastation can leave us feeling like we died but didn’t go to heaven. Instead of persevering, we find ourselves wanting every comfort the world has to offer in order to cover the pain. Yet even the best earthly comforts fail to deliver. How are we to consider it pure joy?

When we finally take our pain to the Lord and seek His plan of healing for our lives, we can feel Him very gently taking us by the hand and walking us through the craziness of life when we are too tired to walk on our own. He stays there, strengthening us, instilling in us perseverance as we continue. The pain is real and not joy filled. But the closeness with the Lord that it leads us to does produce an indescribable joy.

Like a parent holding a small child’s hand through a rugged area, is that not what the Lord does with us? He holds our hand. He does not say, “Ok, let’s just give up since this tragedy entered your life,” or “whoa, I didn’t see that one coming!” He knew. He knows. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He allows us to rest and gives us needed time to heal. But when the time comes to return to something difficult, He holds our hand through it. He teaches us. He pulls us up, pushes us along, and walks with us all the while developing in us a perseverance as He matures us. By the end, we feel full, “not lacking anything,” as the verse describes (James 1:5).

Something about camping gives me a vacation mindset that I need for the rest of my life. “Not going to let that ruin my vacation, so let’s make the most of it!” What if I said that on a regular basis? “Not going to let that ruin my life/witness/day/business/work/family/relationships/fill-in-the-blank!” Instead, we simply “pivot” and revise plans, make new plans, move forward anyway, revise our timing, etc. Revise. Rework. But keep going. Keep persevering. Not giving up.

Are you facing an unexpected trial (or many) today where you find yourself needing perseverance? Do you feel like you lack something needed to persevere? Could it be the Lord trying to instill something in you through this trial? What would it mean for you to have an adventurous can-do attitude in that situation? What would it look like for God to hold your hand through it? Does it mean you simply put one foot in front of the other, knowing He is with you all the way (Hebrews 13:5)? Does it mean simply trying? Keep trying. Keep moving forward, even if it’s slow, knowing that God is holding your hand. Before you know it, you might just persevere!