“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4
Friend,
I don’t know about you, but rarely in any of my times of suffering or pain is my immediate thought one of joy or gratitude. Often our first reaction to hardship is to push it away or rush through it, to get it over with and be done with it.
The Bible tells us differently though, and urges us to actually consider it a great joy. Some translations even say to count it all joy when facing trials. As believers, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28), so we know that whatever trials He places in our lives are for a reason. He does nothing without a plan and a purpose of glorifying His name.
Suffering is not fun and it is not something to take lightly, but we can consider it a great joy that God is shaping us to be more like Him and allowing us to further His kingdom by growing our faith.
Hardships are not for nothing, not if we allow them to bring us closer to God and see how He can use them in our lives. Count it all joy - He is good!
-Lucy Kemp
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