Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an
opportunity for
great joy
. James 1:2 NLT
Troubles are an opportunity for joy! Great joy!
The kind of joy that lifts. The kind of joy that encourages. The kind of joy that brings strength!
Why...because we delight in pain and struggle? No!
Because troubles test our faith!
Our faith in who God is and in who He says we are. In whether He
really is
good all the time. And whether He
really is
true to His word.
Yes, when troubles come, our faith is tested. And we get to see how real, how strong, our faith really is!
So today, I want to encourage us. No matter what we are going through. To find joy.
To see joy. To experience joy. To grab hold of joy! To remember that the testing of our faith is a good thing! A joyful thing!
That just like in exercise, the testing of physical muscles builds endurance and more muscle, so it is with our faith.
The testing of our faith builds more faith. In who God is and what He will do!
And it builds endurance. To keep going, even when the answer hasn't yet come. To keep believing, even when we don't yet see. And to keep rejoicing, even in the struggle.
Yes! The testing of our faith produces endurance and increased faith!
I want more of both! And
that's a great reason for great joy!
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 1:2-3 NLT
And Nehemiah continued: Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for
the joy of the Lord is your strength
!
Nehemiah 8:10
Be full of joy in the Lord always
. I will say again, be full of joy.
Philippians 4:4 NCV
