An Invaluable Opportunity

Dearly Beloved. I trust this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. When we find ourselves in the midst of trouble, difficulty and trial, our usual default is to be sad, miserable and down. The Lord will have us have a different approach to it though. We are to count it wholly joy, as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy, and a sheer gift. James 1v2-4 says:

AMPC: “Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”

TPT: “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

MSG: “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

TLB: “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”

Hallelujah.

Prayer

Father, we thank You so much for Your mercy and grace. We thank You for the trying of our faith which is much more precious than gold. We are grateful for the chance for our faith and patience and endurance to grow. We thank You for all these things and pray we will always have the right attitude when faced with trials and difficulties in Jesus name, amen.

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