We all know there are other choices before us when hard times come. We can get angry with God for His role in allowing a trial. We can get discouraged because we were expecting an easier life with Christ. We can even develop a persistent bad attitude in a trial that keeps others from seeing our hope in the middle of what God is doing. Joy is a much better choice. Not joy for the “trials of various kinds,” but joy over what those trials will accomplish in deepening our faith. Remaining intact as your way through a difficulty is a certain kind of endurance, but endurance without joy is not a pretty sight. And choosing to be angry, to feed discouragement, or to push others away aren’t the kind of endurance God wants to develop in us. He longs for us to persevere joyfully. Whether you feel like it or not. Don’t give up. In Scripture we see this as endurance, perseverance, and steadfastness. Nothing is more essential to success in the Christian life than to persevere, to keep on. This is a character trait you have to develop. Faith gets you started; joyful steadfastness keeps you going. Fortunately, God is even more interested in growing your endurance than you are! Almost everything He allows in your life has the purpose of developing your perseverance. That is why, as James 1:3 says, your faith is tested. Not so your faith will fail, but to produce in you a perfecting steadfastness that results in supernatural joy.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:20:48 +0000
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