Consider it a Great Joy

Over the past few years my relationship with God has grown in ways that I didn’t even know were possible. He has shown up for me on so many countless occasions and only with His strength was I able to handle all of the things that I have gone through recently. The following verses of scripture have been my backbone throughout this whole time.

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” 

James 1:2-4

It seems odd and even backwards that we should rejoice and be happy with our struggles and the hard times we are going through. This is something that I wrestled with a lot. I never was able to see the bigger picture and understand the good that could come out of the hard situations I was going through. I know I will always go through trials, but now I am able to look at them from a different lens. I look at the hard situations as opportunities to grow and develop more and more into the woman that God wants me to be. Is it hard? Yes. Do I ever want to give up? Absolutely. But these verses help me to remember that God uses everything to develop us so that we may be mature and steadfast in Him. These verses are a reminder that God uses the hard times and struggles to strengthen us, even if we do not see it or feel it at the time. 

Journal Prompt - Take a minute today to reflect on a struggle you went through. Looking back on it now, how did God use it to strengthen you? 

Prayers & Love Always