Joy?

James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What's your heart response when "encountering various trials"? Do you praise God for the endurance producing nature of the trial? Do you cling to the promise of a "perfect result". Do you lean forward expectantly to coming one step closer to being complete in Christ - lacking nothing?

Our flesh wants to run from trials - hide - avoid - squirm out from under them. Our natural inclination is to see trials as negative obstacles to our comfort. The fewer trials we encounter the better.

Too often that mindset leads us down un-Biblical paths. It leads us to the path of conformity for comfort's sake. It leads us to compromise truth. It leads us to compromise love. It leads us to compromise the Gospel.

Let us heed the words of Ephesians 5:20(always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God...)in all things, but let us be especially mindful to be thankful for the trials.

We serve a Sovereign God who is in complete control, and He is good. Let that thought never be far from our minds.

Peace