In a few blessed lives, uninterrupted joy seems to fill every day. For the rest of us, life is a series of ups and downs. One day, we get an unexpected check in the mail. Another day, it’s an unexpected bill to pay. While spiritual maturity can even out our roller coaster ride, there remain seasons of life that are not pleasant ones. Hard Times When my mother was going downhill physically and mentally to a lesser degree, it was easy to fall into pessimism about the future. Ma