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Struggles = Pure Joy?


Here is a warning…as I am immersed in dissecting the Book of James right now (thank you Beth Moore), many devotions new may tie in to his words!  

One of my favorite verses for a long time has been from Romans, Chapter 5: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5). This passage means so much to me because it focuses largely on hope. And hope, when you have it, truly cannot disappoint because it lives in our hearts as a form of faith – and what lives in our hearts? God’s love. Isn’t that incredible! We may spend some focus on a later date on just how amazing that is! Take time now to relish that for a second though – God’s love lives IN YOU!

Today, though, I want to focus on the beginning of those verses, “We also rejoice in our sufferings…”

The Book of James begins much in the same way, and right now I would guess that because James wrote his letter first, that Paul read it later and thought it was so fabulous he would tweak it and add a little moreJ. James begins by telling us to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. (James 1:2-5)

What do these verses have in common? They are not telling us to muddle through our suffering or trials,  or to feel sorry for ourselves that the problems exist in the first place – Paul and James are telling us to rejoice our way through our struggles – to look at them with PURE JOY. I am trying to picture myself dancing, with my arms in the air the next time I am facing a trial in my marriage and I can’t quite do it! However, I do understand what they are trying to tell us. It is persevering through our trials (which by the way, are usually there because God okayed them in our lives), that builds our character, and, I would argue, increases our faith (and hope). Here is where I like what James writes about what to do if you are walking on the road to perseverance but haven’t gotten there yet. He gives a simple step to help you on your way. Ask God. Woah. Is it really that simple? YES – but only if you believe he will answer you and you are open to what He has to say. (A book could probably be written on that too…but I shall refrain hereJ).

There is a part of me that thinks that is the true reason for some suffering and trials in our lives. They cause us to seek out answers from God – which is what he desires. He wants you to ask him to give you wisdom. And asking that question may help you to really SEE yourself and the situation you are in, in a new way. Asking God for that wisdom will help you grow in faith because you will see God’s answer/solution – instead of your own. Have you ever noticed that when you try to get through a tough situation by yourself, you cannot? That may be because you have closed yourself off to what God is trying to teach you, and you cannot truly “persevere” until you open yourself back up to His guidance. His patience is infinite…so if you are unwilling to learn his lessons, he will keep reminding you! Remember, Paul writes of the Holy Spirit’s love inside us as a kind of never ending hope. I wonder if James would refer to that hope as the part of us that asks God for wisdom. I think so because if it is true that if we ask, we shall receive…then it is also true that we never have an excuse to run out of hope. There will always be answers. We may not like them, but we will always grow from them.

Heavenly Father, thank you for helping me take time to consider the “joy” in the suffering and the trials in my life. Please help me not to focus so much on those trials (which are largely circumstantial), but instead to look at the bigger picture and see what Your plan is for me through those trials. Please help me remember to ask you for wisdom, and open my heart to know that you WILL grant me that. And finally, thank you for instilling your love in me through the Holy Spirit. It is a gift I do not deserve! 

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