Pure Joy!

Pure Joy!

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. James 1:2‭-‬3 NIV

It is important to note the target of today's extract. James writes to the 'twelve tribes, scattered among the nations'. The tribes were scattered across several nations. It could be as a punishment for sin; it could be God's way to plant his chosen ones among nations so their lives could show off God's mercy; whatever the reason was, God was fully in charge of the process and the events. I must set my heart at rest that God is totally in charge of my life and the events that come around. God can displace because he wants to replicate his glory and honour among the nations. How else will the world see His light, taste the salt and experience His power if my life is not the visible reflection of all these things? These people had a covenant over their lives, yet it didn't prevent them from being dispersed. Most times, God's path to glory lies through the path of the storm. 

I must note also that the additional information relates to faith in God. These words were written to people who had come to trust in God, even though things weren't rosy. God does not call men to earthly comfort, but to earthly impact. He calls, gifts and places men where they would be of eternal value to Him. It could be in a strange land; among enemies; in the direct path of wicked people, but ultimately, the question would be: am I where God intends for me to be? And then comes the words of today's extract, where it is made clear that I must consider trials of faith as a thing of pure joy. It takes a man who sees God at work to rejoice in pain. 

I have two responses to unpleasant situations; you accept them as divine or reject them as demonic. The understanding I have of God will define how I respond. Men who laughed at the storms had a clear idea of the limits of the storm and God's undeniable power over the storm. For you to rejoice in a trial, you have got to have an idea how it works and how it ends. God leaves no doubt as to how trials work: they test your faith, they draw out its value and depth and teach you perseverance and endurance. 

Why do I need to learn endurance or perseverance? It is because where God is taking me to, it is the strength of character, forged through the fire of trials, that will sustain me there? Why does it seem that God doesn't commit important assignments into the hands of men he has not proved? Isn't it because He needs to know if His deposits of power and grace will be handled right and not be thrown to the dogs. It means I must embrace God's efforts to fashion me into a tool He can use. I can't sharpen myself; I can't build myself up by my own efforts. God has to be the One who builds me up into what He sees fit, since what He needs me to get done is defined by Him. 

Ultimately, the test of faith is a test of my love for God. How much of God would I hold on to when every other thing fails or falls off? And when the tests come, I face them with joy, because I know the One who I have come to believe. As I learn perseverance, I learn more about God and the way He works and where He walks. As I follow Him closely, I learn His heart and seek after His purposes. Location isn't as important as purpose, because no matter where I have been planted, God's reward for a life of service will be based on my fulfilment of His purpose. God is able to direct required resources wherever I am located, because He owns the heavens and the earth. So, I rejoice, resting in the confidence that as I progress in my learning, I know more of who God is, what he wants and how he wants me to walk and work. He knows that as I grow, he can commit more things into my hands. What great blessing it is for God to entrust me with His mysteries, because He knows He has my heart. His time of favour is here.