James 1:2-4 "2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

This scripture is a lot to think about and a challenging scripture for sure! What is James telling us in this scripture? I don’t know about you but my “go to” emotion when faced with a trial is not joy! It’s often more along the lines of self-pity, anger, sadness etc etc.

Thank you God for your Word to redirect our thoughts and our perspective!

Instead of focusing on the trial itself, I encourage you to ask God to give you the courage to endure. This perspective leads us to a greater dependency on God, grows our character as a child of the one true God and builds our testimony which is meant to be shared with others.

We are to pursue Jesus in the midst of our trials. God’s Word is what will sustain us. God’s truth will lead us.

When we respond to trials by turning to Christ, setting our hearts on him, and relying on him to help us –our endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3). And God will use this endurance to keep us persevering all the way to heaven.  And then, when we enter heaven, God will reward us by making us “perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:4).

Whatever your situation today, pursue God and seek Him in the midst of even the most challenging circumstances. He will reveal Himself. (May not always be in the way we think or expect, but He will reveal Himself).