Joy in Pain!

Joy in Pain!

My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. James 1:2‭-‬3 TPT

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2‭-‬3 KJV

It is only in God that you get this kind of counsel. First, these verses are addressed to people who have surrendered control of their lives to the One who is able to preserve and keep them to the end. Surrender to God is the one and sure antidote to fear and worry over circumstances. You may not have much power to change your external environment, but the inner Presence of God is your sure confidence that no matter what happens on the outside, your heart is fixed on God. 

And that foundation is important for the things that are ahead. Trials will come; fierce storms will rage; winds will blow; persecution will rise up from all sorts of places. These experiences can be so overwhelming that they keep you from seeing who God is and what He's doing, but the encouragement here is the fact that all that God allows has been carefully considered and are tailored for your peculiar situation and will bring out God's ultimate best for you. What you need to do is to constantly remind yourself of the Power and Grace of the One who calls you His own and calls you to Himself.

All He allows is for a purpose. Every test and experience has a reason, and the ultimate goal of all that God brings is my perfection. You don't attain perfection without testing, and you don't attain perfection outside the knowledge and guidance of the One prescribing the test. He's like a pharmacist, with full knowledge of the ailment and the process required to mitigate the ailment, as well as the right dosage and degree of pressure and consistency required to match the severity of the ailment. 

I must trust His wisdom and His timing. I must trust that God knows what He's doing. I must trust that His prescriptions are for my good, and as my Father, He will seek out what is best for me. His Presence in me is the guarantee that I will end well. His time of favour is here.