James 1:2-4

James 1:2-4

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.

This has been an important passage in my life.  When I was 11 my brother was diagnosed with Leukemia and for 9 years he struggled until Dec. 24, 1993 when He was finally healed and went home to be with the Lord. This trial was the most intense of my life.  For many of the years my reaction to it was not at all consistent with this passage.  But as I entered college and came to understand that my life was missing a relationship with Christ things changed drastically.

Fast forward to January 1992 when God finally got my attention and I turned from being a carnal Christian to one who wanted to follow Christ.  That year was especially difficult as my brother had been very sick.  But it was through this trial that God got a hold of my attention.  It was during this time that this passage became very real.  The hardest part was "consider it pure joy".  What I came to understand is that this does not mean be happy.   Rather I have learned that this means a steady trust in God that He is in control and knows what is best for my life.  Joy is a choice that I make each day to trust God with my life and the details of it.

This is where I find myself again today not necessarily a trial like what we faced with my brother but rather a trial of waiting.  Waiting to see what God wants and the direction of my life.  It has been difficult to trust God and continue in prayer and seeking His face.

My prayer is that I will seek first the kingdom and His righteousness so that the joy I should consider will be a reality in my life.