“Thy Will” by Hillary Scott & Family
It is so difficult to go through trials and temptations, isn't it? I don't like it. Most people don't "like" it. The pain that we go through in life though, has purpose. Most of us don't want to hear this at first when we begin going through a particularly hard circumstance. But, the benefit though, is that the testing of your faith, and my faith, produces patience.
Introducing The Book Of James
James, an apostle in the New Testament, wrote this book, actually an epistle(a letter). He begins James by stating that he is a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. This epistle is written to the twelve tribes scattered throughout the earth. Next, James gives Greetings! The twelve tribes are the descendants of Jacob, renamed Israel. They are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issacher, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and Manasseh.
I read recently that this book is considered the "Proverbs" of the New Testament. Last week, I finished a devotional series on the book of Proverbs. Both James and Proverbs are filled with practical everyday living truths to guide us as we walk with our Lord and Savior.
I mentioned earlier how James began this epistle. Here are the next 7 verses that I am going to concentrate on today:
2" Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."
James 1:2-8
Question: Why should we consider it pure joy, when we face trials? Is joy the same as happiness? Is joy, fun?
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