2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV
This passage had always seemed to ‘challenge’ me. I can recall times when I would come up to these verses and just as if I slammed the tires of my car up against a curb, they would bring me to a dead halt. I would be thinking, “C’mon, brother James, you’ve got to be kidding, right?”
Who does that? I mean, seriously … who gets excited … and not just excited, but ecstatic about the hard times of life? And yet, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus, tells us to ‘consider it pure joy.’ At first glance, you may be mumbling something that sounds like ‘counterintuitive’ beneath your breath. But with all Scripture, you have to keep reading.
The hard times … those trials … difficulties … they are those moments (seasons) that are testing times (that refining fire) where our faith produces perseverance.
When I think of perseverance, I think of track runners. My youngest child was a track and field sprinter. When he had track meets those competitive races would sometimes go all day. My heart would beat with admiration for all those kids because they endured the harsh physical training to get them to that level of competitiveness. They could only succeed with the foundation of discipline and trust.
Our faith walk on earth is much the same. Life will always have its challenges and upside-down seasons, whirlwinds of unexpected trauma and turmoil … but if we remember that Jesus is with us throughout every millisecond … every breath … every heartbeat … we will have the strength to hang on and trust Him in and for the process. And the outcome will result in our increased faith in Him and spiritual maturity to go the distance.
Come and take a praise break with me as you listen to this beautiful song.
And if you’re presently in a tangled mess, hang on Sister … Jesus won’t let go. Keep praying … keep praising … keep pressing into Him. He won’t let you down.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
*Thank you to Writing Worship Community | Daniel Doss | Mary Beth Sudduth for this.
Titus Two 
We are studying this in the Bible right now and I felt like you did… Rejoice in suffering? But yes gives a lot of strength and increases my faith. I still pray when I am suffering but now I tell God to do His will, whatever’s best for me. I’d like to send this to my friend Hollie, just got diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She doesn’t know Jesus so this will not go over well. I’m glad of my suffering because I’m partnered with Christ. I know just a tiny bit of how my Lord and Savior suffered for me. He died for me! I suffer now there’s nothing compared to the joy and glory in eternitySent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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