Friday, July 11, 2014

Finding Joy in Life’s Trials

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1:2-3

It’s a popular saying, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” or as St. James puts it, “trials and testing of the faith produce perseverance.” The experiences we have in this world shape our perspectives on life and give us wisdom; they are something we can look at with great pain or something that can give us hope and be a cause for joy. Trials test our faith, but when our faith is tested it allows us to persevere and gives us the ability to grow. We all know how terrible life can be at times, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find joy in even the worst of circumstances. It’s important to remember that most circumstances are temporary, and even the worst day in your life must come to an end, offering you at the very least a tomorrow. As Christians we believe in the joy and the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection, teach us that there is a life after the one we have in this world, a life where our joy may be complete in him. So rest assured that the trials in your life are only temporary, and there will come a time when the suffering in this world will no longer hold power over you. Remember that Jesus offers us fullness of life and one day we too shall be resurrected with him; hold on to the hope given to us by God’s grace. Times may be tough, but they teach us to persevere and they give us reason to turn to the Lord and ask Jesus for his grace. Christ is the greatest joy that we will ever receive in this world and no trial can ever overcome or overturn the promise of Salvation grated to us through Christ’s death and resurrection. 

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