SCRIPTURE: Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. James 1:2-3 AMP
THOUGHT: If you ponder this verse as a young or new Christian, it may mean something different to you than it does after you’ve been a Christ-follower for 15 or 40 or 75 years. James encourages us that hardship and trials can be faced with a sense of eager anticipation rather than dread. Kind of like that feeling you get at the top of the crazy water slide or roller coaster (or Ferris wheel if you’re like me these days!). A little scared, a lot determined, and ramped up for the ride.
The challenging truth about trials and tests is that you have to be motivated by dreams of spiritual maturity and peace in the midst of conflict to enjoy the ride. If you don’t really want to mature, you’ll find it harder to endure, and the very idea of finding joy in various trials will make you queasy. You might even want to get off the roller coaster. But if you endure, pressing into faith rather than fear, there will be a sweet payday where you find God’s presence has been shaping and changing you in the ups and downs. You won’t be thinking, Oh, here’s another trial – I’m supposed to feel joy, you’ll be, as Eugene Peterson’s Message puts it, “adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” (Romans 8:15 MSG)
SONG: The Great Adventure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2HLwMBixY
PRAYER: Help us get past endurance that shows up with a victim mentality, Lord. A ho-hum enduring only because there seems to be no other choice. Help us trust you to the point we feel the beginnings of joy whenever trials and tests appear, because of what you’ll do to make us more like you on the ride.
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