When Troubles Come

This morning I was reading James 1:2-4 where we are encouraged with the following words: "when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy" (NLT). We know, of course, that experiencing trouble is a part of life. No matter where we live, or at what stage of life we may be in, trouble will somehow find us. But what I appreciate about the encouragement from James is that when we face trouble, difficulty, or hardship, we should see it as an opportunity to rejoice. Why? Well, James goes on to say that when our faith is tested in times of trouble (particularly trouble we don't understand), our ability to endure grows! It means that we will become stronger in faith and in our walk with the Lord.

As I look back on my life as a Christian, I have always appreciated the times when things were going well. When things are well, what joy life seems to produce! But as I have grown in my faith, I now look back and see that the times which strengthened me the most were when trouble or difficulty touched my life. It's not that I go looking for trouble. Who in their right mind would do that? But I have learned that no matter what one faces, there can be a joy which the Holy Spirit gives that causes one to praise and to worship Him no matter what.

And so, stand fast and let the Lord grow you into a person of great character. Winston Churchill said it well: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”