“ Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4
We are to considerate all circumstances… JOY! This can often be a difficult attitude to have when certain situations bombard your mind with fear and worry, but there is a reason God tells us to do this. For trials test our faith, the very foundations of our belief in Christ, which then produces endurance. Scripture goes on to tell us that the result of endurance makes us perfect and complete.
There are many mysteries of God’s Word that we won’t fully understand until it’s proved to us in our own lives. So when hardships come and we are able to have joy, then we gain understanding.
I believe it is also important to note that joy is not that same as happiness. Joy is deeper. Especially when hard times hit, I don’t think we are suppose to be happy and giddy, but we are suppose to hang on to our joy.
Marriage produces all kinds and all sizes of trials all the time. Are we going to respond with JOY, having faith that no matter what is thrown our way God is bigger and will be with us?