Friday, November 05, 2010

Counting it All Joy

God has been so faithful and has blessed us in so many ways I can't even begin to name them.  Yet, I struggle.  I struggle with selfishness, pride, and discontent.  I struggle with the desire to have what I see as my future right now rather than waiting and rejoicing in today.

James 1:2-8 were a wonderful rebuke to me this morning. 
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

As I read the verses, I am reminded about trials.  Nobody's trials are the same.  For one person it may be the loss of a loved one, the suffering of a child, or the loss of financial stability.  For others, it may simply be the struggle of day to day living.  I find it too easy to compare my trials with those of others.  Yes, my trial may not have me raising four kids alone, or suffering at the hand of persecutors as those Christian's in other nations do.  However, my trial is still a trial and for me to discount it makes it difficult for me to see the hand of God working in my life.  God has given me this trial to teach my faith endurance to make me complete.  Therefore, as Chinese Christians rejoice in their physical persecution, I too must rejoice in my trial.  God is Faithful!  All I have to do is to ask Him for wisdom to handle and endure and He has promised to give me all the wisdom I need -- not dolled out in tiny servings that do not satisfy, but sufficient wisdom to endure the trial and to walk through it with Joy in knowing my God will bring me through the fire.

1 comment:

Jenny said...

Two thumbs up and an AMEN from me. God's grace is sufficient for any trial, no matter how "small" - God is faithful, and always keeps His promises. I'll pray for you today!