Supernatural Joy

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT).

Great joy is available, especially when we are in the middle of a trial! Not joy for the “trials of various kinds,” but joy over what those trials will accomplish in deepening our faith. “Trying as hard as you can” 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.

So keep on keeping on!  Continue doing what you have committed to doing, whether you feel like it or not. Don’t give up. In Scripture we see this as endurance, perseverance, and steadfastness. Walking with Jesus in faith always includes an opportunity to persevere, to keep on. This is a character trait you have to develop. Faith gets you started and joyful steadfastness keeps you going.

Fortunately, God is even more interested in growing your endurance than you are! He loves you so perfectly, and He cares about every detail in your life. Almost everything that happens to you has the potential 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.

Today is my day to persevere and endure, with a skip to my step and joy in my heart.  What an opportunity for supernatural joy!

With Love and Prayers,

Audrey