Ready:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." -James 1:2-3 (NIV)
Set:
Have you ever heard the phrase, "God didn't promise you it would be easy?" Boy, I have thought about that a lot lately. Tough days at work, at church, with family health issues, and the list keeps going and going. When will it stop I wonder? I know God is there, and I know He hears me when I pray, but wow. Some days it just rains and pours.
Have you ever been there? Where do we go when that happens? What do we do? Let's find out.
In James we read that when tough times come we are to consider them pure joy. Come on, joy? He couldn't find any other word than that? Well, no, because it would not complete the verses quite right. How do we find joy in trials? When it is raining so hard we cannot see our way in life, what do we do? I suggest pulling out our umbrella of truth: Jesus Christ. He is the source of our joy in trials, the colors in the rainbow, the reason we go on, and the one who carries us when we feel like we are all alone. Trials in life will ultimately come, and how we respond to them is what matters.
Right now I am going through the rain storms of life, but I know the rainbow is right around the corner. Though I cannot see the clouds breaking I know that there is blue sky behind them. I know that I don't always count it as joy when tough times come, but perseverance does increase our faith.
Pull out your umbrella of truth and hold on tight! The rain will come to an end soon.
Go:
1. What are the rainstorms hovering over you today?
2. When they come, how do you overcome them?
3. Today, how can you count it all joy and walk through the rain into the light?
Workout:
Extra Reading: Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Peter 1:5-7
Overtime:
Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You when I’m in the midst of storms. Help me count it all as joy. Amen.