Day #306 - Pure Joy

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash

What makes you the most joyful?

I would have to say time with my wife and kids, especially if we are enjoying a great meal together. Usually what brings us most joy is time with people we love, a hobby we enjoy or performing well at sport we play. It takes an unusual person to find joy in some type of suffering or hardship.

James writes in his letter, that we are supposed to consider it pure joy when we find ourselves in various kinds of trials. Some translations say we should count in all joy in these times in testing in life. People of “the Presence” learn to delight in God so much that they become these unusual people who can rejoice when things are difficult in life.

James says these trials in our life that test our faith, produce perseverance in us. When we don’t give up and persevere in trials, we become mature and complete to the point where we lack nothing. I think most of us would like to lack nothing, but we don’t typically enjoy this road to get there.

My Dad has a little song he likes to sing when he finds himself in a test or trial. He would sing when he preaches sometimes too. He sings, “Its working for me, its working for me, its working for my good. Its not against me, its not against me, its working for my good. This light affliction, its working for me, its working for my good.”

Trials can make us bitter or better. When we respond to God by trusting Him in trials we can enter into joy. Trials become a time where our illusions are broken and we see where we are really at. Trouble can cause the things that don’t really belong in our lives anyway to be stripped away and we are left with pure joy. Joy in trials is a key to living in “the Presence.” Trials are not evidence that God is mad at us. Quite the opposite, trials are opportunity to learn rejoicing in the Lord no matter what we endure.

Lord Jesus I love You and rejoice in You! I choose to consider my trials and the testing of my faith pure joy! Help me to persevere when things are tough that You might have Your way in me. I want to become mature and complete, lacking nothing. Thank You for Your presence in my trials. In Your great name, amen.