Joy!

Joy!

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

The Inspiration:

Joy cannot really be explained in worldly terms, because the world cannot fully understand or explain it. It is not what the world can define or limit because it can only be produced by the Spirit of God. It is part of the 9-fold fruit of the Spirit. The dictionary defines it using great feeling of happiness or pleasure, but I believe it goes deeper than that. You tie happiness to an event or experience, but joy does not need the physical, because it is produced by the presence of God. If indeed God lives in me, the things outside of me won't bother me so much. That is the foundation of today's extract. Tough times have become part of the human experience, but how well I go through these experiences, and the gains at the end will be defined by my inner state and content. The question then is: "Is God at the centre of my heart right now?"

The Contention:

My life cannot look forward to the tough times if I am not prepared the right way. Tough times make or break men. These experiences are God's tools to sharpen, fit and shape me for the place and purpose He has created me for. God may not commit great treasures into my hand if he cannot trust my heart. If He is uncertain about my principles or commitment, how would He commit the hearts of men who need stability and direction into my hand? These tough times are effective because they really push you into the hands of God where you just have to remain if you will survive. It may be hard to accept, but we need these tough times to prepare us for all that God has in store for us. Can I ask God to help me, even as I look ahead with expectation to all that God will bring as He prepares me for a lifetime of impact?

The Conclusion:

One of the benefits of tough times is that they teach you patience. There are some experiences you will not be able to pray your way out of, and there are some that may change once you pray. However they work, God wants me to learm patience, which is also one of the 9-fold fruitof the Spirit. It is clear that God does not do abandoned projects or go only half-way; He keeps his eye on the eternal while working out my earthly impact. With patience, I can accept or tolerate delay, problems or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. Can this be used to describe me at the moment? I also note that patience is a 'work', which means that my life will always reflect whatever it is I allow to work in me. I ask God to do His work in me, so I can look like Him, and men can be attracted to Him. God's time of favour is here.