In his letter to the scattered Jewish Christians, James gives this challenging command: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” James 1:2-3

These are great memory verses for a Sunday school class—but what about when we lose a job and can’t pay the mortgage? What good does a double bout of COVID, an ICU stay, a car accident, or persecution for our faith actually accomplish?

There’s a reason James unashamedly tells us to count it all joy when we encounter trials like these. He knows that when true faith survives the refining heat, the fruit is sweeter than the cost is painful. If you are in trials in these difficult days, I want to encourage you to take advantage of the supernatural fruit that your suffering can produce.  Make that choice today to judge, esteem, to count it all joy by tuning into all the ways God will strengthen you by your trials.

Deepen your relationship with God and cry out to Him in prayer.  Lay it all out, and ask, seek and  knock for His will and resources to flow in Christ.

Grow your knowledge of God as you consider, count out each trial and ask Him what do you want to do in my life by these difficult days?

Let Him form your character all the more.  He is making you into that steadfast child of the King you are destined to become.  He is making great good in YOU!

Realize the beauty of how everything you are suffering can be redeemed to love and serve those around you. God never teaches us a lesson in vain.  Everything you learn and all the character of Christ that is formed in you will be gold to some other brother or sister.

My dear ones, count these days as joy!  God has got you!