Devotionals
James 1: 2-4 (The Message)
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.
Have you ever thought about test and challenges being gifts? Have you ever consider trials and tribulations as something to be joyful over?
Most of us do not look at trials and tests as blessings, but rather a hardship! In the midst of a trial our first instinct is to pray for deliverance out of the trouble.
But here the writer is telling us to count it all joy - consider it a gift when trials, test, challenges and temptations happen your way.
It's important to recognize that in this passage it says - when it happens, not if you are tried! WE WILL BE TESTED, CHALLENGED AND TEMPTED!
It is under this pressure that our true colors will be revealed. Do we whine and throw a pity party? Do we fall apart? Do we become angry with God and walk away from His love? Or do we submit to the pressure and let it do its work? Do we burst forth with a song of deliverance?
We will be tested and tried! Expect it and instead of resisting and fighting, let's count it all joy!
Thought: Does a song of joy break forth from your heart when you are being tested and tempted?
Dear God of mercy and love! So many times I have cried because the pressure seemed unbearable. I didn't think it was fair and I thought I was going to break in the midst of the trials. I didn't understand because was looking at myself!
Lord, we want to rejoice in the midst of trials! We want to break forth in song, when the tests arrive at our doorsteps. We see in Your Word that they will appear but YOU ARE OUR STRENGTH WHEN WE ARE WEAK!
Thank You Lord for wasting nothing in our lives! Even when it seems all hope is lost! Thank you Lord for turning every situation - even when the enemy of our souls intends evil - into GOOD for the KINGDOM of GOD!
We count it all joy today and we know the trial of our faith works patience, and patience will have her perfect work!
In Jesus Name, AMEN
© Jounda LaMance August 2006
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Hope all is well with you. This dose of encouragement is something that we need every now and then. I have shared this article with many of my colleagues and they all were blessed along with me. We all bless you from our hearts. Keep writing your blessed articles.