blog 12: joy in trials
It’s easy to be a follower of Christ when things are good right? When life is good, you and your spouse are vibing, co workers are chill, money in the bank, everyone’s getting along. Oh yeah, its easy being like Jesus then.
It’s the times when chaos breaks out is when the rubber meets the road. When life gets hard, money is tight, when everyone seems to be coming against you. When you’ve been betrayed and mistreated maybe even lied to. These are the moments when everything you have ever known and been taught come into practice.
James 1:2-4 NKJV“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
I had read this portion of scripture so many times and always thought, “count it all joy while going through hard times? That doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone be happy during such a hard time in life??”
Then I found myself there.
I was going through a firey trial in my marriage. I remember the day THIS scripture came to life for me. I’ll never forget. I was doing the dishes just crying talking to God. When all of a sudden I felt His embrace. I felt so comforted, I felt so loved on, like I’ve never felt before , I felt strength, peace and JOY so much so I started to laugh and be filled . then I got the revelation. Wow!!
Joy in trials!
It’s in those darkest of places that Jesus will find you. He’s found me there plenty of times. But the joy is in the patience and endurance of your faith. I felt the Holy Spirit show me THATS where He can show off. Its in the trials of life, when YOU DECIDE TO TRUST, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO WORSHIP, no matter the circumstance.
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
When we stay focused on the situation instead of seek God. When we point out all the bad,or go to the world for answers that won’t bring the JOY.
You know what’s amazing? JOY is infectious! In this portion of scripture when Paul and Silas break free from prison there is a jailer. Hes afraid after all the door fly open, but long story short they end up giving him the gospel and he welcomes them into his home. Look what happens…
Acts 16: 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with JOY because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
We have no idea the impact in passing the test of these trials. People are watching us. They are looking to see what our reaction will be to lifes trials. Will we get angry? Will we fold? What will we do? If you have kids your kids are watching you. Unsaved friends are watching. Unsaved family , co workers etc.
Another version says it like this
James1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
These hard times in life are tests. They are a testing of your faith. Do you trust God in that are of hard times so much so that you have joy? It only comes through KNOWING who GOD is in these times can you experience that JOY. Allow these trials to be what make you draw closer to God not further away.
Allow these hard times to be what turn you into a more loving and merciful follower of Christ, not one who starts to hold grudges and get bitter with life’s struggles.
Hard times they can literally make or break you. They test your heart, your mind, your prayer life, they test if you REALLY know your Savior.
They turn you into Jesus or they turn you into the world.
The joy came because my faith had been tested and I was choosing to love like Jesus. Through the trial I was growing not only in my walk but in knowing who my Jesus was. THAT was where the JOY came from.
The trials are opportunities to grow closer to our maker. In doing so we are filled with love and JOY.
I’m telling you friend you go against your own way , go against the way you would respond in a difficult time. You will absolutely feel not only the peace of God but the JOY!
I didn’t do much in this time, all i really did was cry out to God. Literally cried haha! Sobbed! He knew my heart, He knew that I had denied what I wanted for what He wanted , He knew I was coming after Him.
He knows the hard time you’re facing right now. And because He loves you so much He desire you to grow in your faith through it. What is faith? Believing what you cannot see.
He desires through the hard times in life you would trust Him.
You would seek Him.
You would come to know Him.
Stop doing it YOUR way. Stop doing it in YOUR strength. Stop responding how YOU would.
When we go through trials it says the “testing” of our faith. Don’t keep failing at the test. Put on love. Grow in patience with one another.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.But the greatest of these is love.
I pray as we go through our day. We would look at hard times, hard people, hard situations as OPPORTUNITIES to be able to grow in our faith. Grow in being more like Jesus. In return we will be filled with JOY knowing the testing of our faith is MATURING us in love and patience!
I Pray this blessed you . Love you friends.
ONE LOVE
