Week 17: Joy in All Things {Previous Weeks}
James 1:2-3 (AMP)
2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
It doesn’t quite seem logical to be Joyful when you are in the midst of a trial or temptation! The bible is full of ways of thinking that seem illogical to us. But we must remember that God does not think the way that we think! As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts says the Lord Isaiah 55:9. The bible also says that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise 1 Corinthians 1:27.
So what does all this mean…It means that being joyful during rough times is quite the opposite of what we naturally feel like doing! However, we must grab a hold of what verse 3 is saying in James 1. We must recognize and understand that everything that we go through is working for our good and that each day we are being transformed into the image of God.
Stay encouraged!
I love this weeks devotional. Yes we do need to remember that everything that everything happens for a reason and in the end it’s meant to benefit us,not hurt us.
Thank you for another great week.
Yes ma’am! I am constantly reminding myself of this! Thanks so much for reading!
Absolutely correct; last Sunday for women’s day at my church, women ministered the same topic.
We have to count it all joy Vanessa, yes!
I am working towards being content this year….which I think goes right along with joy in the face of adversity. Also, this devotion dovetails nicely with my favorite verse Romans 8:28 – thanks for the great reminder to choose joy.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it Lynne! Romans 8:28 is one of my favorite verses as well! That verse alone can bring so much peace in any given situation!