Today’s Encouragement is, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy, for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 NLT
Opportunity For Great Joy –
Even a cursory glance at this passage alarms us. We are to consider the trouble we are having right now as an opportunity for great joy?
We think: This is illogical, an unreasonable expectation, and completely contradictory to the normal human response to difficulties. Only someone out of touch with reality could see their current problems in any positive light.
But God’s ways and thoughts are different from ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Jesus said we will have trouble in this world, but be encouraged because He has overcome it (John 16:33).
Our current problem, whether it is illness, divorce, death of a loved one, job loss, persecution, etc., threatens to destroy us. But when viewed through the eyes of faith, it can be correctly identified as a test of our faith and overcome with great joy. Our faith says, no weapon formed against me will succeed (Isaiah 54:17); Jesus has overcome this world (John 16:33); I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
We choose. We decide: this problem will devastate us, or we will see it as an opportunity for great joy. We will trust God to bring us through, stronger in faith by enduring.
Thank You, Father, for revealing this truth to us. So that we can endure the many sufferings of this life with joy, confident of Your ultimate victory in and through us –
because of Jesus.
Because Of Jesus
Charity Gayle
https://youtu.be/NfVEQJjbNXQ?is=gcsj-XCAoVXWIopV