“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.” James 1:2-4

When our circumstances quickly turn into the perfect storm and life has dealt us a severe blow, it’s easy to think that some of us experience more trials than others or we seem to have more than our fair share of struggles.

James levels the playing field. He explains that all of us — without exception — will face trials of many kinds in this life. The trials are needed for our faith to be tested and proven true. The things that test our patience and endurance, like weights to a body builder’s muscles, develop our faith so that we learn to be resilient. Our need to persevere in trials, even suffering, is crucial. James explains that perseverance must finish the work it is doing. Perseverance must be fully experienced so that we will grow to be mature and complete. The Lord doesn’t want any of us lacking in any area of our lives.

We need a paradigm shift. Our Father loves us enough to not release us prematurely from our struggles, even if we beg. He knows they are needed to grow us. He will use them to do a work within us. He has a completely different perspective.

James invites us to alter our viewpoint when it comes to facing trials. Consider or think carefully about, contemplate, give thought to, reflect on all of the trials in your life. Ultimately trials are a gift — so much so, that we are encouraged to consider them “pure joy”!

We need to ponder that!

Father, thank you that you love me and you know that I need to persevere in order to grow to full maturity. You love me and are wise. No matter what I face today, would you give me the grace to see my struggles from your perspective? Would you strengthen and help me to persevere? Build my faith and character. Lord, help me ponder and consider my trials as pure joy. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

By Donna Mitchell
Used by Permission

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Struggles: Yes we all go through them. Sometimes we know why and probably most often we don’t. James tells us to…

‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,’ James 1:2.

James tells us to consider it all joy when we go through them. But it can be a real struggle.

James continues on in verse three...

‘because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.’

Does that means so the at we can struggle better? Verse four gives us the answer.

‘Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.‘

This gives reason for the struggles, that we might grow from the experience. And then in verse twelve we get the results.

‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’

Be blessed my friend!

“Heavenly Father, whatever happens, we are committed to conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. We will stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose us. We do this as a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that we will be saved—and that by you our God. For it has been granted to us on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him… In Jesus name amen.”

Philippians 1:27-30

By Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

Philippians 1:27-30 (NIV)

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,^[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

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“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings…Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:10,12

Are you presently going through any pain, suffering, or persecution because of your faith in Jesus? If so, I want to encourage you to not lose hope, give up, or give in. You’re not alone in it. God is with you to see you through. There are people who have gone through, and are still going through, the same thing.

In the text above, the apostle Paul shared about the things he went through in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, and about the persecutions he had to endure. He didn’t run away from them, but persevered through them patiently. Many of his hardships were unavoidable because of his mission to spread the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus. In another letter, he stated, “God will not allow us to go through what we cannot bear, but He also provides a way so that we can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The testimony in his story was that the Lord rescued him from the persecutions and was with him as he endured. God knows the best way to deliver and rescue you from any suffering or pain you might be going through. Just trust Him through it all. We can expect persecution, not necessarily because we have done something bad or wrong, but simply because we have chosen to live a godly life in Jesus. Let us rejoice though, because God is with us in it and He will see us through.

Father, give me the grace to go through whatever pain or suffering that comes my way because of my faith in Jesus. Amen.

By Folasade Oladapo
Used by Permission

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“Therefore we do not lose heart…for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16a-18

During a difficult season in my life, affliction, anxiety, and doubt clouded my perspective. Overwhelmed by my current reality, my mind contradicted my heart. I slowly began to only see life through an earthly perspective — forgetting that my current circumstances were momentary and would pass. I focused on them instead of choosing to see that the sun still shines behind life’s dark clouds, despite my murky perspective.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul implores us to embrace a faith perspective. Christ followers are not exempt from adversity. Regardless of how we perceive life or how overwhelming our troubles appear, Paul assures us they are momentary when seen through an eternal perspective, which he defines as assessing our circumstances through our spiritual eyes and not our physical eyes. When we do that, ultimately, our distresses “are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Do you struggle to embrace a healthy perspective amidst life’s adversity? Often, perspective is a heart matter. God knows your situation. Do not lose heart. Jesus reiterates,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”  John 16:33

Jesus, who experienced every manner of adversity and persecution yet overcame the world, will empower you to walk by faith and not by sight — to embrace an eternal persevering perspective regardless of life’s adversity so you can be

“…more than conquerors through him who loved us”  Romans 8:37

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you promised to be with me in times of trouble. Holy Spirit, help me to fix my eyes on Jesus. Help me to discern life’s adversity with an eternal perspective. Strengthen my resolve to daily immerse myself in your presence and word that I may be able to overcome any circumstance along life’s way. Amen.

By Allan Mitchell
Used by Permission

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“He…comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

For two years, Annette had suffered through the agony of her beloved husband’s terminal cancer. Meanwhile, their only son had been drawn into drug addiction through the influence of an undesirable group of students in the local high school. She was devastated. Her whole life was filled with heartache and sorrow. She had nothing to live for. Then a neighbor told her of Jesus – how He could give her peace of heart and peace of mind and could provide the purpose she needed in her life. He could even change her son.

So Annette received the wonderful gift of God’s love, the Lord Jesus Christ, and began to pray for her son. At first he was antagonistic, but gradually he became aware of the dramatic transformation in his mother, and in answer to her prayers, along with those of her new-found friends in the local church, he too came to worship the Savior and make Him Lord of his life.

In the meantime, Annette was suffering great financial difficulty because of the huge doctor and hospital bills and her lack of ability to work during her husband’s illness. But God wonderfully comforted and strengthened her so that now she can witness joyfully of His gracious mercy and faithfulness on her behalf. She and her son are ministering effectively to others who are experiencing heartache and tragedy similar to those which once plagued them.

Are you experiencing difficulties, sorrows, heartaches, disappointments? Ask the Lord to show you how to translate them into victories so that He can use you to be a blessing to those around you who are experiencing similar difficulties.

Bible Reading: II Corinthians 1:3-7

Today’s Action Point: Knowing that God is faithful in His love and wisdom, I will trust the indwelling Holy Spirit for the power to accept the trial or adversity I face today, and will expect God to use it to comfort and help someone else through me.

by Bill Bright
used by permission

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A few days before our wedding, Denalyn and I enjoyed and endured a sailing voyage. Milt, a Miami church friend, had invited Denalyn, her mom, and me to join him and a few others on a leisurely cruise along the Florida coast.

Initially it was just that. Leisure. We stretched out on cushions, hung feet over the side, caught some zzz’s and rays. Nice.

But then came the storm. The sky darkened, the rain started, and the flat ocean humped like a dragon’s neck. Sudden waves of water tilted the vessel up until we saw nothing but sky and then downward until we saw nothing but blue. I learned this about sailing: there is nothing swell about a swell. Tanning stopped. Napping ceased. Eyes turned first to the thunderclouds, then to the captain. We looked to Milt.

He was deliberate and decisive. He told some people where to sit, others what to do, and all of us to hang on. And we did what he said. Why? We knew he knew best. No one else knew the difference between starboard and stern. Only Milt did. We trusted him. We knew he knew.

And we knew we didn’t. Prior to the winds, we might have boasted about Boy Scout merit badges in sailing or bass-boat excursions. But once the storm hit, we shut up. (Except for Denalyn, who threw up.) We had no choice but to trust Milt. He knew what we didn’t and he cared. The vessel was captained, not by a hireling or a stranger, but by a pal. Our safety mattered to him. So we trusted him.

Oh, that the choice were equally easy in life. Need I remind you about your westerly winds? With the speed of lightning and the force of a thunderclap, williwaws anger tranquil waters. Victims of sudden storms populate unemployment lines and ICU wards. You know the winds. You’ve felt the waves. Good-bye, smooth sailing. Hello, rough waters.

Such typhoons test our trust in the Captain. Does God know what he is doing? Can he get us out? Why did he allow the storm?

Can you say about God what I said about Milt?

1. I know God knows what’s best.
2. I know I don’t.
3: I know he cares.

Such words come easily when the water is calm. But when you’re looking at a wrecked car or a suspicious-looking mole, when war breaks out or thieves break in, do you trust him?

To embrace God’s sovereignty is to drink from the well of his lordship and make a sailboat-in-the-storm decision. Not in regard to Milt and the sea, but in regard to God and life. You look toward the Captain and resolve: he knows what’s best.

by Max Lucado
used by permission
From: Come Thirsty

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at: https://www.maxlucado.com/about/

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Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

When sadness and depression settles into one’s mind, heart, and soul, it is not easy to shuck the feelings off, break out of the rut, and move on as some may suggest or think. At times, inner despair remains regardless of the goodwill offered from those that care. If this sounds like you, realize you are not alone. Many others have or are currently battling with valleys of darkness too.

Are you aware that numerous men and women of the Bible struggled with sadness? Yes, God-believing people experienced depressed feelings, emotional grief, and times of despair.

• Moses asked God to take his life (Numbers 11:10-15).
• Job cursed the day of his birth (Job 3:1-26).
• Jonah was angry with God and wanted to die (Jonah 4:3-9).
• Hanna grieved because her womb remained closed for many years (1 Samuel 1:1-16).
• Tamara, after her brother raped her, lived a desolate life (2 Samuel 13:1-21).
• Naomi was filled with bitterness and pain after experiencing multiple hardships
  (Ruth 1:1-20).
• Hagar sobbed in the desert as her son was about to die (Genesis 21:15-16).

There are multiple reasons why these people incurred feelings of despair, but only one awesome God that loved and helped each one out. Moses was overwhelmed so God appointed him some help (through his brother, Aaron). Job lost everything but God blessed him in his later years. After Hanna poured her heart out to the Lord, He opened her womb and she gave birth to a son. As Hagar cried in the wilderness, God provided for her and her child’s needs.

Sullenness can enter one’s life after defeat or loss, following a huge spiritual triumph, after committing sin, from the hands of someone else’s wrongdoings or poor choices, or even from a chemical imbalance. No matter what the problem or cause of people’s sadness, God is still ready and able to help His beloved children. He will go through great lengths to restore that which is broken and crushed in spirit. God’s Word says,

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”(Psalm 34:18).

If you are feeling down know that God is with you. He knows what you are going through and He does not want you to remain broken, crushed in spirit. Invite Him into every area of your life that needs healing. Allow His Spirit and word to comfort you. Reach out and let others aid and encourage you along the way too. Brighter days will transpire as you place your hope in the Lord and take the necessary steps He asks you to take.

Here is suggested prayer for today:

Father God, My feelings and emotions have been troubling me. I pray that You will restore me back to wholeness so I can live the joyful life You offer. I am sorry for anything that I have done that may have caused this downcast within me. I ask that You fill me with the Light of Your Spirit so I can arise from this state of gloominess. Fill me with Your joy and peace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

By Barbara Alpert
Used by Permission

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It is that time of year that we are faced with winter storms. During these storms the power often goes out in our neighborhood leaving us without power for light and heat. Last night it was off for several hours. It is amazing how dependent we have become on electricity and how dark it can be without lights and how quickly the cold creeps in.

I am sure thankful that as we go through the storms of life, the “power” of salvation provides an eternal “light” that never goes dark and a source of “heat” that never grows cold.

Let’s remember to thank and praise Him and not take things for granted.

My prayer for you this week

“We praise you oh LORD. We praise you LORD, with all our souls.
We will praise you LORD all our lives; we will sing praise to you, our God, as long as we live.
We will not put our trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns forever, our God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD. Amen.”
Psalm 146:1-10

By Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

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“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12–13

I grieved for the hardship I faced, yet as I helped prepare the charity event, I was filled with peace. Some people who’d never normally step foot in a church would come to this event and be exposed to living testimonies of how God worked in people’s lives. That’s what I had to focus on. Slowly, joy returned — the supernatural kind since my circumstances had not changed. Tears flowed, but my heart was content.

Often times, scripture verses appear out of context on social media which portray the goodness of God. They can leave the impression that being blessed is all Jesus’ message boils down to. But the truth is, life is hard, and though God has a good plan for us, His word clearly lets us know it won’t be all roses and blue skies.

Yet, God has a provision prepared for us to help us endure through the hardships. He has supernatural joy for our souls. We can receive it by reminding ourselves of the cause we are standing for and the choice we have made.

If you are going through hardship, take heart. You are not alone my sister, my brother. There are faithful people around you that can relate and help you through it. All the while, God is working miracles in you and through you.

From ashes to beauty is what He promises.

*My Lord, my God. My heart aches and my soul is crushed. I want to keep on running this race of faith. Send me people to share this with, and help me to be aware of your goodness in the midst of trials. Help me recognize the joy and honor to participate in the sufferings of Christ. Amen. *

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission

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“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus… And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them… Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?… I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”  Romans 8 (NLT)

We stood on the shores of the Pacific Ocean as the waves relentlessly rolled into shore. Seabirds soared from rock to rock, seemingly unaware of the power of the surge just below them. With no traffic sounds to obscure our hearing, only the roar of the water and the occasional chirp of the birds were audible. Wave after wave. Thunder after thunder.

I thought of this just a few hours ago when I heard the news that the granddaughter of a dear friend had been killed in an auto accident. Then an email message that another friend, suffering from cancer, is weakening. Earlier in the week we received word that an acquaintance had died suddenly. Wave after wave. Thunder after thunder.

“…when sorrows like sea billows roll…” That’s how one man described his lot after financial ruin from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, and then the death of his four daughters in a transatlantic ship collision. Horatio Spafford went to meet his wife in England after his daughters deaths and when the ship on which he was travelling neared the place of the sea tragedy, he began writing the words to a great hymn:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
’It is well, it is well, with my soul.’

Spafford’s poetry—and his later life as a faithful follower of Jesus—indicates how he could say, “It is well with my soul.” Six important words: “Thou has taught me to day…” This man and his wife had walked closely with Jesus, absorbed His love and learned to trust Him in the good times so when the hard, even tragic, times came, through their tears they knew enough of God’s character to know that nothing could separate them—or their daughters—from His love.

We can’t prevent all the accidents and illnesses of life, but we can learn to make Christ the center of our lives each day, trusting Him so that “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well with my soul.’”

Thank you, Father, for being always present with us. Help me trust you even when I can’t see your hand so that “it is well with my soul” will be daily on my lips.

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

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“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

While we were driving from Florida to Texas on I-10, our planned schedule came to a screeching halt in Louisiana. After waiting for an hour, we crawled en masse to the next exit where law enforcement diverted all westbound traffic off the highway. We saw why. An 18-wheeler lay on its side, blocking all lanes.

In that swampy area, the only parallel road had two lanes. We kept crawling for another hour, sandwiched between other vehicles, until the next exit was accessible. At first it was maddening to get so behind schedule. Then we started noticing trees, flowers, birds, interesting houses, and yard art, things we wouldn’t know existed had we kept driving 70 mph on the highway.

In the same way, our lives take unexpected detours when we experience job loss, a forced move, serious illness, or death of family or friends. We have choices: we can grumble, curse, or scream about the unfairness of changing our plans, or we can trust God, pray for wisdom, and accept the new route open to us.

For all we know, God might have placed that detour in our path, either to prevent a worse tragedy from occurring, or to experience unforeseen blessings along the way.

Lord, help me put my trust in you when my plans fail and grief and disappointment result. Let me accept the unexpected detour graciously, with faith that you will guide me safely through my journey. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

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“How long, O Lord?  Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul,  Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?  Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,   And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.  But I have trusted in Your loving kindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord,   Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:1-6

Which is more influential in your life—circumstances or your perspective? Although we may long for a pleasant life filled with abundance, comfort, and good experiences, the reality is that we live in a fallen world. Almost nothing is as it should be, but the way we perceive life’s hardships and burdens depends largely on our perspective.

For example, when we are overburdened, the world might look dark even when the sun is shining. The birds may be singing, but all we hear are the sorrowful cries of our own heart. The burdens seem so overwhelming that we may even distance ourselves from others, yet that only encourages us to dwell even more on our problems and leads us further into despair.

But when we open the book of Psalms, the words penetrate our bleak circumstances, inviting us to draw near and find rest in the Lord. How gracious of Him to give us this amazing book of comfort. But greater still are the lessons we learn from it.

In today’s psalm, David is weighed down with burdens. He asks, “How long?” Have you ever felt like that? He describes his troubles and pleads for an answer, but by the end of the psalm, his perspective shifts when he remembers that God is trustworthy.

If you feel as if you’re bearing the weight of the world on your shoulders, stop and look up to your heavenly Father. Remember a time in the past when God carried you through hard circumstances, and rejoice in His steadfast faithfulness. He didn’t fail you then, and He will not fail you now.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission
From:  https://www.intouch.org/

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