"The only thing that allows us to enjoy the disagreeable is the bright enthusiasm of the life of the Son of God. If we get into the habit of saying, “Lord, I am delighted to obey you in this matter,” the Son of God will come to the forefront, and we will glorify him by revealing his life.” Oswald Chambers
This quote captures the essence of not just enduring a difficult season but to actually enjoy it. We've all had to endure disagreeable things and, like being forced by Mom to eat something we dislike because "it's good for you!", we do it with a grimace. We do it because we must but we hate every bite so we do it slowly and reluctantly with an expression showing our disapproval. This is certainly one level of obedience and it's far better than disobedience but it is not God's highest goal for our lives. We all know the prudish and joyless puritan caricture the world loves to describe those who follow Christ - miserably righteous. Chambers captures the essence of how to walk through disagreeable circumstances so we aren't miserably righteous.
We say to God (and ourselves), "I am delighted to obey you in this matter" as we do the (disagreeable) will of God. Delight means great pleasure and satisfaction which is the opposite of painful duty. Our delight isn't in what's disagreeable, that wouldn't be authentic or true. We are not trying to use a mental technique to trick ourselves into liking something we obviously do not like. Rather our delight is in doing the disagreeable thing with God and for God. Jesus gives us the way to delight in obeying in John 15:10-11 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." It's abiding in God's love that we delight in and that is an easy thing to do becaue the Lord's presence is always delight-full. May the Lord refresh us in HIs love today as we go through a most disagreeable time before the return of Christ.