Consider It Pure Joy

The eyes of a child on Christmas morning as they gaze on the loot under their tree.  A newborn baby, swaddled in a blanket while sleeping peacefully.  A new bride as she gazes into her new husband's face while they share their first dance.  What do these things have in common?  All of them could be considered pure joy.

If you notice the title, the Bible verse referenced here has something different in mind.  This scripture is found in the book of James1:2-4 and it tells us that we should, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Doesn't exactly give you the warm fuzzies, does it?  Nobody said that being obedient to God was easy, but that's what we're called to do.  Facing trials is part of life, and just when it seems you have climbed out of one valley, you descend into another one.  That's when the testing comes, my friends.  That's why it's called a 'sacrifice of praise', because it DOES take effort to praise the Lord when you're not feeling quite like doing so.

The good news is that we serve a loving and merciful God who, "...does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." Psalm 103:10  So, whatever trial you may be facing today, remember that, "Because of  the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  While you're at it, consider it pure joy.