GREAT JOY

If the storms and trials of life bring great joy, why is it that very few people are chasing after storms and trials? Why isn't everyone trying to scare up some more storms and trials? When we think of JOY, we imagine smiles, happiness, children playing, sunshine, and flowers, etc. We are not naturally inclined to think of life challenges, such as grief, health problems, financial difficulties, relationship struggles, etc. as a path to JOY. Those circumstances often include much pain AND it often seems to take so long to complete the learning process. The truth is that the only thing which can keep us from becoming bitter in the storm is an understanding of the value in it. Nobody enjoys the pain. James is not saying we should enjoy the pain. James is challenging us to accept and endure the pain with our eyes set on the future blessings. It is about perspective.

You cannot purchase those future blessings or the great joy, as James calls it, which come as the result of the storms and trials of life. You will not find them on Amazon. You cannot buy a secondhand version on Craigslist. The future blessings of God in the joy which comes through the storms and trials of life include things like: a deeper understanding of God's love, divine appointments and opportunities to minister to others who are going through similar difficulties, an inner peace which surpasses our own human understanding, and so much more. There are no emergency blowout sales or BOGO’s for the future blessings of God which come as a result of the storms and trials in our lives. They cannot be bought.

Part of the redefining, rethinking and reconsidering which needs to take place in our own perspective is a shift of focus from what are our own personal preferences and comfort zones to the preferences of God. What we need in our lives is more focus on God and less focus on ourselves. What we need is actually quite evident: We need more God and less us. #MásDeTi

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  James 1:2-3 CSB