Joyful In Trials

Today I was reading the passage in James chapter 1, verses 2 to 3. Here James tells us to consider it pure joy whenever we face many kinds of trials, because this kind of testing produces perseverance. I laughed heartedly with my husband about how much joy we have had the opportunity to experience recently, especially in light of all my recent illnesses, the setbacks they have brought into our lives, and the major changes that has happened in our daily lifestyle as a result.

I began to think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3, who were to be thrown into the blazing furnace because they were devoted believers in and followers of the one true God. They believed that God was able to save them, and even if he didn’t, they would remain faithful and loyal to him. Wow!

Paul the Apostle is a fantastic example of someone who was able to be content whether he was hungry or full, living in plenty or in want. This was a man who was beaten, shipwrecked, exposed to death many times, stoned, in various dangerous situations, often lacked essential basic needs, but he depended on the love and strength given to him by his saviour. Paul exhorts us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. And these are not empty words from someone who had a life of smooth sailing.

Then I was reminded about how the Israelites marched out of Egypt with their heads held high, while the Egyptians were burying their first born. This they did after 400 years of enslavement, of backbreaking work, and of bearing heavy burdens that came with not having freedom to live and provide for their families as they wanted to. We must remember this and keep it in mind as an example of God's miraculous deliverance for us in any areas where deliverance is needed. We should also consider that when we pray and ask God for deliverance from a terrible situation, we must be patient and wait for HIS timing, because HIS timing is the perfect time for deliverance to happen, no matter how long it takes. And when deliverance does come, we too will walk with our heads held high, in defiance of the evil one who tried his utmost to keep us down!

And God parted the sea so the Israelites could walk through to the other side! Something that was such an impossibility for any human being to even imagine, was nothing for an awesome God to do. We must remember that it doesn't matter how not viable, or unrealistic or unfeasible a resolution appears to be, God WILL make a way for us to pass through the insurmountable ocean depths of a terrible situation in which we find ourselves!

I truly know what it’s like to have your life changed in an instant when something unexpected or devastating happens to you, and you have no control over the outcome. Keep trusting and hoping in the Lord, and he will take care of you. I promise.

So finally, I want to encourage you my dear friends, to not lose hope, to not give up, to not become despondent, to not take your eyes off God, to remember Jesus loves you with an everlasting love, to remember that all things work out for the good of those who love God and are called by him, to finally consider it pure joy when you face a variety of trials, all at once, all at the same time, because if you do, you will develop a steadfastness that will enable you to overcome despite all those difficulties, delays, and failures.

And if you endure through these trials, with the joy of the Lord intact in your heart and mind, you’ll develop the mental and moral strength that will allow you to push forward, withstand discouragement, and to keep you from giving in to the desire to quit when circumstances seem unbearable and insurmountable.

What resonated the most with you as you read this?

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