Have you
had your Joy Juice today? Sometimes we
have to make ourselves drink it, even if we don’t feel like it!
Wouldn’t it
be great if 2016 brought nothing but good things? But we know that trials and tribulations are
going to come our way. Listen to what
James tells us in the first chapter, verses 2 – 4:
2"Consider it pure joy, my
brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance
must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything."
And then in verse 12 he reminds us of our reward: "Blessed
is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he
will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." What a joyful day that will be…when
we receive our “crown of life”!
Becoming a
follower of Christ does not make us immune to life’s difficulties on
earth. But the scripture teaches us
clearly that He can and will work in the midst of those tough times. The hard part is that we often can not see
God working while we are in that tough, hurtful situation. That’s when we must patiently trust, even
when we don’t feel like! Trusting God is
a conscious decision. And the commitment
to stand firm in our faith will cause us to be able to “consider it pure joy.”
Drink that Joy Juice, even when
it doesn’t taste sweet…because God guarantees that you WILL experience JOY
again…in His perfect timing!
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