Trials And Joy

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It never runs out of revelation.  Have you ever read a verse – maybe years ago, formed a perspective from it, only later to have God reveal even more?  To clarify a few things in your understanding?  James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 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.   I always thought we should just count trials as joy.  Didn’t make sense, but God said it, so…  But did God really say trials were a joy…  He just said “Get joy when you experience trials.”  Consider it joy, not the trial, but what it produces.  Not for the trial, but for what comes next – if.   What is the purpose of trials? (that test your faith). The purpose of trials are not to test your faith.  God already knows your heart, and your faith, He doesn’t need to send you a trial to find out.   The purpose of trials in your life are to develop your faith into perseverance in faith – so that you may mature to completeness, not lacking anything.  That’s why you can count trials as joy – because the continual use of your faith produces perseverance, and the purpose of perseverance is to make you complete in maturity – so you don’t lack anything.  Persevere in faith – let perseverance finish its work.  If you don’t persevere in faith, it can’t finish its work in you, and you won’t be mature… you will still be lacking.  Lord help me persevere in faith through this trial, help me go through this trial in maturity… If you go through this trial a fussin’ and a cussin’ that’s not spiritual maturity… you still lack.  You can only count trials as joy – if you persevere in faith, and see that spiritual maturity is coming, you are maturing and becoming complete.  When you see and know that - you will lack nothing.  Most people think that lack is solved by money.  Money can’t buy you this – only trials can.  Not lacking anything doesn’t come from money, it comes from maturity by persevering in faith – through trials - when perseverance finishes its work in you.  Don’t focus on the trial, that won’t bring you joy - focus on the perseverance of faith – take joy in that… God’s working the rest in you – through your perseverance – by the grace He has given you. When trials come, you can take joy in that God is maturing you to completeness, so you lack nothing.  Sometimes what you consider lack, is just a lack of maturity.  The more you mature in faith, the more you lack nothing.  That’s what you count as joy – God is maturing you – His grace is helping you choose faith over fear, trust through the trial, joy in what God is doing in you!  Praying that you will persevere in faith – and count trials a joy, because God is maturing you to completeness – so you lack nothing. 
 
Love you all,
dad