Pure Joy

Have you had your Joy Juice today?   Drinking it every day will remind you to react with kindness.

                Until we find ourselves in a pressured situation, we really can’t know the depth of our character. It’s easy to be kind to others when everything in our life is going smoothly.  But what about when you are being treated unfairly?  Or when someone you trusted betrays you?  What about when one of your children has been hurt or your spouse gets overlooked for a promotion at work?  Even in the church there are occasions when people say or do things that offend. Do you always respond with kindness?   

                God wants us to grow spiritually and He uses these kinds of opportunities to teach us and develop those Godly character traits which lead to the fruit of the Spirit.  So instead of complaining about our struggles, let’s thank God for being with us through them.    

                The verses in James 1 never lose their importance: 

                “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.”

                 We can depend on God to fill us with His wisdom. May we react to tough situations with kindness knowing that the JOY of the Lord is our strength!