As I work to wrap my arms around joy I’m working to:
- Expect trials: keep it real—we all experience difficult times
- Seek God’s direction and strength: always look to God for wisdom, and understanding
- View trials from a different perspective: teachers who help me to learn and grow
- Choose growth: be proactive; identify steps towards becoming a better person
Today, I'm focusing on verse 3 of James 1:2-3: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
What’s in it for me (WIIF)?
First things first—All of us go through unpleasant circumstances. All of us experience situations that we'd prefer not to be connected to. All of us face trials.
As a Christian, my overall goal is to develop a stronger relationship with God. Real talk—while I don’t always understand or agree with how this happens, managing trials is a big part of the process.
Managing frustration, fear, and feelings of failure is easier said than done. That’s why prayer and scripture meditation are so important. I can’t explain how it happens, but the more I concentrate on
scripture, sing songs of praise, and devote time to God I see things more clearly.
When I encounter trials, like most, I'm tempted to ask for a quick end to the experience. Truth is, that’s not always God’s solution. Spending time talking to God and listening to what He has to say enables (strengthens) me to walk through, seeking opportunities to learn more about Him and more about myself.
Trials have purpose. As I experience them, I'm learning to seek a closer walk with God. As I depend upon God to help me walk through my trials, He increases my faith and my patience to handle the situation.
To be continued....