Joy in Trials?

I borrowed this from a blog friend of mine...(of course I asked permission first!)  I enjoyed it, and I hope you will too! 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Why would we be joyful when facing trials and hardships?  That's a pretty foreign concept to us, isn't it?  Don't we face trials and hardships as a consequence to sin and as a result of living in a fallen world?  Well, yes, but that's not always the case. 

Maybe there's a bigger purpose.

Look back at the verse.  Trials = the testing of our faith

The testing of our faith develops perseverance.  Beth Moore states that the Greek word for perseverance means to "nerve oneself", or keeping your feet while being tossed around by strong winds, or "heroic endurance".  Perseverance = endurance

Endurance works in us to make us mature (or "perfect" in a different version) and complete. Perfect, not meaning sinless, but "that which has achieved or reached its goal, objective, purpose", lacking nothing.

Remember Jeremiah 29:11? "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'".  God has plans for each of us.  So, trials in our life are the testing of our faith which push us toward the goal and purpose that God has for us. If we don't experience these trials, we don't become mature and complete and wouldn't reach those goals.

We can be assured that we will experience all kinds of trials and hardships in this life.  We can be joyful, even in the midst of those things, knowing that those things are working in us to mature our faith and put us one step closer to God's goal for us.

He is the Potter and I am the Clay

I am a work in progress!!!!

After my last post, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated with our adoption agency.  I was so disappointed in them.  I started looking at other adoption agencies, and seeing what they had to offer, just out of curiousity....well that's what I told myself.
I know that, but my human nature wants me to doubt and question God's will. I thank God that he allows me to die to self daily. I am still learning to distrust myself, my wisdom, my strength and look to God alone for it all.

This is the only way I can walk in the spirit and live a victorious life!!  

I have been praying incessantly for this particular branch of our adoption agency. I am praying for all of the adoptive and birth families that are passing through there.  The agency has an amazing opportunity to minister to so many people, and I pray that none of those opportunities are missed. 
 
Heavenly Father, Thank you for keeping me spinning on your potter's wheel, shaping and reshaping me.  Help me to keep my clay moist with daily prayer in accordance to your will. Please keep your hand on the ministry at the adoption agency. I pray that all families who come in contact with them also come in contact with you.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.