2 Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:2-3 NLT)
These are tough times in the world and in particular in the United States. We see anger and violence on the news and rudeness and hostility has become normal behavior for many. Everyone is potentially facing serious illness like never before. This is indeed an uncertain world but one thing is sure you are built and equipped for this age. Whatever you had to deal with today or face tomorrow remember that it is all for your growth. You can choose to stay immature or to expand your understanding of yourself, the world around you and how faithful God is.
As a child we experience growing pains. Think about when you were a kid and you wondered what the adults were laughing at when you got angry or upset. They knew how you felt and had overcome that obstacle. Over time it becomes humorous to look back and see how far we have come then see it in the younger generation.
These times become easier to endure and thrive through when we look for the growth opportunity. What can I learn from this? It sounds weird but expect “great joy” to come out of it. Soon you will be the one laughing through trials and pain. Your endurance has grown and your faith tested. You have achieved great joy!
