Pure Joy

 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. 

When I think about the word trials, I’m reminded of the breadth and depth of hardships and pain people go through. I don’t want to discount any suffering my friends, family, neighbor or anyone else go through. Some folks seem to be slammed with so much grief; I wonder how they get through. Others may worry about finances, illness, surgery, or difficult relationships. With each trial James tells me to find joy because perseverance will result if I walk through it with God.

No matter what circumstances come, God shores up his followers. I’ve been tested as I’ve recovered from surgery. Some days I wanted to crawl under a rock— not exactly the most comfortable place, but better than the pain I suffered. But God gave me hope. He knew I’d be stronger and that I’d persevere. Sometimes the physical ailments are easier to trek through than the emotional and spiritual. Yet with God, I’ve learned to pray my way through. And in the end, I’ve grown. Praise God for his foresight and desire for me to grow in him and the pure joy he's shown me through trials of life.