Counting it all joy is hard...

In the New Living Translation, the Bible tell us: James 1:2-5(NLT) - Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. 5 If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. As I watch the days get closer to when I leave for China, I'm also more cognizant of the fact that Satan is on the prowl. He's already begun attacking me through people I least expected. Though the attacks hurt, I know I'm not to take them personally, but to remember the bigger picture...that we fight against principalities and powers, not against flesh and blood. Satan is quaking at the fact that I'm going to China to share Christ. He does not want the name of Jesus to go forth. So, I'm trying to learn to count it all joy when I face things like this, but it's hard. It's difficult to know that I have such a wonderful opportunity ahead of me and at the same time to face such opposition. I've asked my friends and family to be diligent about praying for me in the days ahead because I know the attacks will increase rather than decrease. I'm trusting that God has allowed this time of testing to occur in order to grow my faith in Him.