James 1:2-3 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.
We wrap up our selection of verses for this month with a passage taken out of James. As we said yesterday, the joy of the Lord can be our strength when we face trials or persecution. And that is exactly where we end these devotions – considering it pure joy when we face trials of all sorts.
This verse is not telling us to be joyful for trials, though it seems that way when you read it. But it is not. Instead, it means we should have joy in knowing that despite the woes of life or struggles we may be facing, God is there and will be our strength. His presence will give us comfort and will help carry us through whatever trials we may be facing. Trusting Him to do this is how we produce faith which in turn produces perseverance. We trust in Him to take our suffering, to transform those trials, and to use all of it for His glory. We demonstrate faith in Him when we believe this and wait on Him to help us.
Do YOU believe it? Do you trust that He will make a way in all of your struggles, trials, and setbacks? Do you have faith in Him to fill you with joy that overflows upon others? Faith that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion? Consider it pure joy, my friends. Pure faith building, perseverance-developing joy.
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