It was a pretty rough week at work, I'm glad it is Saturday.
I was reading through James this morning and came across this verse.
"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 1:2-4 (NIV)
This is the kind of verse you can read when things are going well and smile. But when life is hard, and trials bring us to the breaking point? A verse like this can really rub a nerve the wrong way. Endure my trial? Yes, but consider it pure joy? Are you out of your mind James?
Perhaps one of us is, and I get a feeling it is not James.
Reading on...
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
The crown of life. Eternal life.
I have known many who appeared to be Christians over the years but have since left the Lord. The trials came and they simply did not persevere. They fell away.
If we live our lives just for the enjoyment of this world, then we will be frustrated when anything gets between ourselves and that goal.
However, if our eyes are fixed on the goal of eternal life, if we are in agreement with the Holy Spirit who is conforming us into the image of Christ, then we begin to see the trials from James' point of view. We realize there are things in us that trials bring out. There are areas in us that need to be changed. And the goal of God in our life is not to give us a comfortable life, but to transform us into the image of His son.
So if we let the trials do that, then YES that is a reason to have true joy.
