Better Than Everنموونە

PURE JOY

There are a lot of words that come to mind during a season of trial, but I would bet “pure joy” doesn’t usually make the list. “Awful” – sure. “The worst” – yup. “Pure joy” – that’s a bit of a stretch. But, that is exactly what the Apostle James (Jesus’ little brother) tells us to have whenever we face trials. 

Now, before you write him off as crazy or out of touch, he was writing this letter to a group of Jewish Christians who had been scattered all over the known world because of persecution. These were people who had faced wrongful arrest, torture, execution, and were now living life basically on the run…they had seen some trials! And yet, James’ advice to them is to consider it pure joy. What’s up with that?

Well, you’re about to read it so I don’t want to spoil it. I’ll just point out that what trials can produce in our lives is worth far more than a cushy, easy existence. In other words, we can end up better off at the end of a trial than we could ever be if God simply protected us from every potential struggle. That’s why we can stare at a trial and have joy – it’s like we’re looking down the path to becoming better than we were. So today, thank God for the trials you’re facing…thank him for the good you know he can do in your life through this process.