Joy in the midst of challenges

We attended the most wonderful webcast last week, called "The Works of God:  God's Good Design in Disability" with John Piper and several other excellent speakers.  It was so encouraging as we walk down this road of disabilities.  The point I keep thinking about is how we can see God's hand working through disabilities.  While we certainly experience many challenging times, God can give us joy in the midst of those challenges.  Not some, "fake it till you make it," shallow joy.  We don't ignore or deny the grief that we sometimes feel.  But we also have the hope of Christ in the midst of our sadness and struggles.  Two opposite emotions in the same heart at the same time.  We have hope and joy because we know that God is at work in the middle of our struggles and that He is using all things for His glory and our best good (Romans 8:28)!