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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:1-4
Talk
about a week of trials. This last week has been one of the more difficult weeks
I have experienced. So many battles to fight. Tough decisions to make. Heart-breaking
conversations. At the end of this week, as I reflect on all that happened, my
heart is at a strange place. It is heavy because of the pain and of the long
road it knows is ahead. But at the same time it is joyous. Because when I look
back at this last round of warfare, I realize how much time I spent calling
upon the name of the Lord.
Do you sit at home and eat bon-bons and watch movies about training?
Do you watch other people train and hope to be as good as them one day?
Do you pamper and baby your body?
No. You literally get up everyday and beat your body into submission.
You push yourself. You go beyond your limits. You allow yourself to feel pain. Because if muscle isn’t tearing, then it isn’t rebuilding stronger than before.
If you want to run well, then you have to train well.
Why? Because training puts your body to the test. It produces perseverance. And when perseverance finishes its work, training will have made your body perfect and complete.
Sound familiar?
We
live in a fallen world. It’s not a matter of if there will be trials; it’s a matter of when. Thankfully the Lord is gracious enough to give our trials
meaning and to allow us to be strengthened by them. That is why James says “Consider it pure joy.”
Be
joyful - because the alternative is to be upset; and we all know that doesn’t
help anything.
Be
joyful - because your faith is being put to the test. Be joyful - because you are being made ready for battle
Be joyful - because when perseverance has finished its work, you will be made perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Be joyful because adversity usually, not always, but usually means you are doing something right for the Kingdom. The devil doesn’t sabotage himself or those doing his bidding. If you are feeling particularly attacked, look at your life.
If
God is working through you, the devil will try to work against you.
Just
take joy in the fact that God has chosen to use you!
The
greatest people I know face the biggest trials.
But
what the devil uses to distract them, God uses to strengthen them.
RISE
ABOVE! CHOOSE JOY!
Christ
get’s the victory when you do!
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