"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
Allow the phrase, "Count it all joy" to settle in for a second. What trials have you faced in the past? What trials stand before you today? Is joy the emotion that stirs within you when you think about your problems? My first instinct is often to run; I want to abandon the problems before me and act like they don't exist.
James encourages us to count trials as a joy, to run at them head-on for the sake of being transformed into a faith-filled, steadfast child of God. Trials are an opportunity to produce character within me, not a circumstance intended to harm me or derail God’s plans for my life.
Trials and tribulations can either keep us from abundant life or produce in us character that sustains abundant life. The choice is up to us. Will our faith remain steadfast in the face of trouble or will we abandon the lifestyle of faith for one of the world?
The greatest gift we have in the face of trials is faith. When problems are staring at us head-on it's hard to see God's intention for our good never mind to count it all joy! Whatever trial you face remember God loves you, believe that God has an outcome that is of greater benefit than the hardness of the trial.
Be encouraged today that God will see you through every problem that stands in your way and produce in you a steadfastness on which you can experience abundant life.