Day 28 - 40 Days of JOY
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of JOY
Day 28 | THE JOY OF TRIALS
40 Days of JOY
Day 28 | THE JOY OF TRIALS
THE JOY OF TRIALS
James 1:2-4
“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.”
Have you ever considered how you get better at something? Whether it’s playing a sport, learning the piano, learning how to speak in public – or anything else? How do you get better at the task?
By trying. And trying is difficult. But, it is how we get better, stronger, and become more skilled.
Here, the LORD says through James – Jesus’ brother – that we can be JOYFUL about various trials that come our way because each one can be used – by God – to build us up. Trials can help our faith to GROW and develop “stick-to-itiveness” (aka perseverance)… which is an amazingly positive quality to develop.
Then, verse 4 promises us that if we let “perseverance finish its work,” we’ll be “mature and complete.”
Another translation says it this way: “And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until nothing is missing and nothing lacking.”
Being complete and lacking nothing sounds pretty good! But alas, the PATH to get there usually requires some challenges and difficult “testing” or trials.
Much like when we work with weights, our muscles become fatigued… it’s all part of the strengthening process. And if we don’t lift at least slightly heavier weights, we will cease to grow and stagnate where we are.
Going through life, there are many things about which we need to get better and stronger. Trials are a primary way that happens, thus, why we can be JOYFUL despite it all.
Prayer: LORD, please provide me wisdom to see the VALUE in the challenges, difficulties, and trials you allow to come my way. Amen.
James 1:2-4
“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.”
Have you ever considered how you get better at something? Whether it’s playing a sport, learning the piano, learning how to speak in public – or anything else? How do you get better at the task?
By trying. And trying is difficult. But, it is how we get better, stronger, and become more skilled.
Here, the LORD says through James – Jesus’ brother – that we can be JOYFUL about various trials that come our way because each one can be used – by God – to build us up. Trials can help our faith to GROW and develop “stick-to-itiveness” (aka perseverance)… which is an amazingly positive quality to develop.
Then, verse 4 promises us that if we let “perseverance finish its work,” we’ll be “mature and complete.”
Another translation says it this way: “And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until nothing is missing and nothing lacking.”
Being complete and lacking nothing sounds pretty good! But alas, the PATH to get there usually requires some challenges and difficult “testing” or trials.
Much like when we work with weights, our muscles become fatigued… it’s all part of the strengthening process. And if we don’t lift at least slightly heavier weights, we will cease to grow and stagnate where we are.
Going through life, there are many things about which we need to get better and stronger. Trials are a primary way that happens, thus, why we can be JOYFUL despite it all.
Prayer: LORD, please provide me wisdom to see the VALUE in the challenges, difficulties, and trials you allow to come my way. Amen.