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
Here it is from The Message…
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced
into the open and shows its true colors.
So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.
Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed,
not deficient in any way.
As his children we are being asked to consider our trials “pure joy” and “a sheer gift.” Is he serious? Really? I think so. I think he is asking us trust him.
There is that word again. TRUST. I think he wants us to see that trials in this life serve a purpose. They make us stronger believers. This passages says trials help us mature. Last I checked…maturing was a painful process for the parent AND the child.
So, once again I am trying to say, “OK, Lord. I am going to leave it in your hands. I am going to TRUST you to take care of this. I am REALLY going to try hard not to insert myself into the situation. I am going to keep my mouth shut and let you lead the way.”
Really. That is what I am praying. I mean it.
And I will remember that there is a rainbow after the rain…
Have a great day. I hope your maturing process is less painful than mine…
Maybe the hotter the fire, the more refined we will be.
Hi Mary,
I know that I continue to be a work in progress, and I am so thankful to Him for bearing with me! 🙂 Coincidental that I wrote how thankful I am that God allows me to put everything in His hands on my thankfulness journal this morning….
Be blessed, and know that you ARE blessed by His loving kindness and grace! 🙂
Denise
That is a great passage. Have a great day Mary!
This is my memory verse for this week as I am leading Beth Moore's new study on James. I will remember to pray for you as I memorize.
Blessings
~a
He always knows just how hot to make the fire for each of us in every situation…..Yes, trusting is hard sometimes but the rewards are great…..
My prayer for you is that you will rise above the heat….
Hugs…
A good word, dear friend and one I needed–thank you!
I had this open on a tab yesterday but didn't read it. I should have. I'm still in one of those in-between places it's hard to see as all joy. Walking by faith, not by sight. The rainbows do help!
I have to read this verse regularly to understand that God wants me to have joy in my trials because through them He is producing good things. He sees the outcome when all I see is the trial.