Joy In Your Trial
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4)."
I found the use of joy in this verse very curious. God doesn't say to endure the trials or go through them without complaining. Sure, we are to do those things as well, but He tells us to consider it pure joy as we go through trials. The word joy is defined as "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness." Other words used to define joy are: jubilation, triumph, rejoicing, euphoria and bliss. Why then, do we consider trials pure joy? It is in the trial my friend, that your faith is tested. As your faith is tested, you grow and mature in Christ. God uses trials for that very purpose. He is molding us and making us more like Christ.
Trials are not easy, to say the least. All of us are either in a trial right now, just coming out of one, or getting ready to go through one. Jesus promises that in this world, we will, not may, have trouble, but to take heart, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). As I think of trials, the first person that comes to my mind is Job. He lost everything He had-his children, his livestock and his health. His friends came around him only to ask what great sin he had done for all that to be happening to him.
How did Job respond? He never turned His back on his God. He continued to trust although his life was crumbling and he never gave up hope. His heartfelt words were, "though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before Him (Job 13:15-16)." Did you catch what he said...."indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance." Through all the pain and heartache, Job never took His eyes off the Lord and he knew that God would work it all out for His good. "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10) That's what trials do my friend, they refine us as gold is refined in the fire. Just as the silversmith puts the gold in the fire to get the impurities out, God takes us through the fire to get the impurities (anything that is not like Him) out of us. And just like the silversmith who intently watches the gold in the fire and takes it out at just the right moment, God does the same with you and me. He knows the precise moment to pull us out of the fire.
There are important truths for us to remember as we go through trials. God is sovereign~nothing happens to us that does not first pass through His loving hands. He is in complete control, so we can rest in that truth. We must remember that God is always good and always loving because that is part of His character. He always works for our good. I did not say the situation itself was good, but He will use it ultimately for our good. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:17-19)." Ask God what He is trying to teach you in the trial and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Remind yourself of God's promises~stay in His word and renew your mind so the enemy won't get a stronghold in your thoughts. And find comfort in knowing that the trial will pass. God will bring you through to the other side. He has not brought you this far to leave you my friend. He will never turn His back on you. "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)."
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3)."
I found the use of joy in this verse very curious. God doesn't say to endure the trials or go through them without complaining. Sure, we are to do those things as well, but He tells us to consider it pure joy as we go through trials. The word joy is defined as "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness." Other words used to define joy are: jubilation, triumph, rejoicing, euphoria and bliss. Why then, do we consider trials pure joy? It is in the trial my friend, that your faith is tested. As your faith is tested, you grow and mature in Christ. God uses trials for that very purpose. He is molding us and making us more like Christ.
Trials are not easy, to say the least. All of us are either in a trial right now, just coming out of one, or getting ready to go through one. Jesus promises that in this world, we will, not may, have trouble, but to take heart, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). As I think of trials, the first person that comes to my mind is Job. He lost everything He had-his children, his livestock and his health. His friends came around him only to ask what great sin he had done for all that to be happening to him.
How did Job respond? He never turned His back on his God. He continued to trust although his life was crumbling and he never gave up hope. His heartfelt words were, "though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before Him (Job 13:15-16)." Did you catch what he said...."indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance." Through all the pain and heartache, Job never took His eyes off the Lord and he knew that God would work it all out for His good. "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10) That's what trials do my friend, they refine us as gold is refined in the fire. Just as the silversmith puts the gold in the fire to get the impurities out, God takes us through the fire to get the impurities (anything that is not like Him) out of us. And just like the silversmith who intently watches the gold in the fire and takes it out at just the right moment, God does the same with you and me. He knows the precise moment to pull us out of the fire.
There are important truths for us to remember as we go through trials. God is sovereign~nothing happens to us that does not first pass through His loving hands. He is in complete control, so we can rest in that truth. We must remember that God is always good and always loving because that is part of His character. He always works for our good. I did not say the situation itself was good, but He will use it ultimately for our good. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:17-19)." Ask God what He is trying to teach you in the trial and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Remind yourself of God's promises~stay in His word and renew your mind so the enemy won't get a stronghold in your thoughts. And find comfort in knowing that the trial will pass. God will bring you through to the other side. He has not brought you this far to leave you my friend. He will never turn His back on you. "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)."
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3)."
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