Consider it Joy

This past week has been a week of bad news.  On four separate occasions I have been driven to my knees with concern for people that are very dear to me. At the same time, our adult Sunday School class is studying the book of James -- and these words have been running through my mind all week:

"Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, when 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

I know that the people directly affected by the bad/sad news of this week are all believers in Jesus.  And I know that their faith is not some "pie-in-the-sky", "opium of the people", blind faith.  Their faith has shaped them, it has defined them, and today it is what sustains them.

I believe that each of these people will persevere through their current trials and, as a result, they will emerge from this season of life with a faith that is more mature and more complete than it was before.  Will they still have moments of worry?  Of course.  Will tears be shed? Absolutely. Might they even wonder "Why me?"? Possibly.  Will they throw in the towel and give up on their faith?  No stinkin' way.

For me, these dear ones are living proof of the Good News that we call "the Gospel."  Not only do we believe that Jesus died for our sins, saving us from eternal separation from God, but we also believe that He is intricately, directly involved in our lives on a daily basis.  Does that mean nothing bad will ever happen to us as children of God?  Of course not.  But it does give us the hope and confidence that a loving God is willing and able to meet our needs....ALL of our needs....even when our circumstances scream to us that all is lost.

As I think of my own life, and the life of my immediate family, I am grateful that today we are in a season of peace.  Everyone is happy, everyone is healthy.....life is good. But, there have been trials in the past that have shaken us to the core, and there will inevitably be trials in the future that will test our faith.  In those moments,. I pray that God will grant us the grace to "count it all joy", and that we will emerge with a faith that is more mature, more complete for having walked with our God through the darkness.