Mikey V.D.’s Blog

So with a group of guys I have been reading 30 chapters of the Bible a week.  So now that we are in the book of James we read it 6 times per week.  This is the second week that we have been reading James.  So that means that I have read the passages 12 times already. (Random side note, if you want to get to know the Bible deeply this is a great way to do it.)  There is one passage that has stuck out to me.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. –James 1:2-4

Wow, this passage is convicting, challenging and so much more.  Think about it with me, we are to find joy when we meet trials.

What trials do you have?

For me they have been great over this past little while.  I am sure you have some great trials you are trying to get through.  For me I have been dealing with work, dealing with where I am in my life, my wife’s cousin having cancer.  Yet in these trials I am supposed to consider it joy.

How?

The Sunday School answer is Jesus.

The real hard truth answer is… Jesus.

During these hard times all I can rely on is Jesus.  So when I persevere through trials by the power of Jesus, I learn to be steadfast and then I become more complete.  Really I think a great way of putting it is more like Jesus.

So I don’t know your trials.  However I do know that we are to find joy in these situations, this is not just putting on a fake smile, rather relying on Jesus and in Him is true joy.

No matter what you are going through Jesus is there.

May you find true joy.  And realize that it is only found in Jesus.