TGIF
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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
When we think of thanksgiving we typically (and understandably) turn to things that make us the happiest. We thank God for good times, good food, good people and so on. But can we thank God when we face trials?
James says that we can. Because trials produce perseverance. This thinking requires a longer view of things.
What is the worst thing that can happen in life? Well, I think the Bible would say there are worse things than even the loss of good times, good food and good people. It’s the loss of salvation.
But the testing of our faith can produce perseverance. Like when bread dough is kneaded and stretched it produces a stronger dough. So too does God’s stretching of us.
In what way do we get stronger? Well, I think because trials can teach us (if we let them) to rely on God rather than ourselves and find strength in Him. This is to find infinite strength rather than to rely on whatever limited capacity we might have.
I’m not saying this is easy. Nor am I saying this is always easy to see in the moment. But as many Christians have experienced and testified and as James tells us, we can give thanks in trials, because God is strengthening us so that we may grow stronger and stand firm to the end.
For Today:
Pray:
James 1:2-4
When we think of thanksgiving we typically (and understandably) turn to things that make us the happiest. We thank God for good times, good food, good people and so on. But can we thank God when we face trials?
James says that we can. Because trials produce perseverance. This thinking requires a longer view of things.
What is the worst thing that can happen in life? Well, I think the Bible would say there are worse things than even the loss of good times, good food and good people. It’s the loss of salvation.
But the testing of our faith can produce perseverance. Like when bread dough is kneaded and stretched it produces a stronger dough. So too does God’s stretching of us.
In what way do we get stronger? Well, I think because trials can teach us (if we let them) to rely on God rather than ourselves and find strength in Him. This is to find infinite strength rather than to rely on whatever limited capacity we might have.
I’m not saying this is easy. Nor am I saying this is always easy to see in the moment. But as many Christians have experienced and testified and as James tells us, we can give thanks in trials, because God is strengthening us so that we may grow stronger and stand firm to the end.
For Today:
- Is there a trial in your life you are now thankful for?
- How did it strengthen you?
- Is there a trial you are going through right now? Can you give thanks in advance for it?
Pray:
- Praise the Father who is our loving Father.
- Give thanks for Jesus who endured the hardest trial for our sake.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others give thanks as you persevere.
Posted in Thank God It\'s Friday
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