Our scripture this morning is James 1:2-4.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James gives us encouragement for facing the adversity we are called to endure as Christians. Jesus told us we would be challenged by a world in need of God’s love and that there would be resistance to the Gospel. In John 15:18 He teaches us “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”
Finding “an opportunity for great joy” when we are challenged seems backward. We don’t normally think of being happy through hard times, but Jesus says it is the way to follow Him. The world wants things its own way rather than God’s and this produces conflict.
This unexpected response confuses the world because it is not the way they react. Other translations of this passage say “count it all joy” when our faith is tested. It means that we are experiencing the same challenges Christ did and with His help we can overcome them.
Loving Lord, we are weak but You are strong. Help us to help others see that through Your strength and love we can all be saved. Amen.
