August 15, 2016 – James 1:2-3

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. James 1:2-3Someone once told me if I didn’t have trouble, I wasn’t growing in the Lord.  When I evaluated my life, I realized I had no real difficulties.  Oh, no.  In the next year my life was turned upside down.These verses didn’t discourage me, but gave me joy.  Suddenly, reading the scripture filled me with strength and wonder.  Reading the Psalms helped me walk with King David.  Often there were tears as I saw what I had been missing.  I began to discover the treasures of the Words of the Lord through writing.I learned the secret of endurance from my husband.  My husband of 64 years, confined to a memory care facility, taught me this secret after he had been diagnosed with dementia for 4 years and 4 months.  As we visited about Heaven, our children, grandchildren and how God loves us,   he said these words about his life.  “I just do what the Lord expects me to do.”Now I know why troubles bring joy.  It is a test of faith.  It is learning to depend on Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that lives within me.  It is the day to day realization of how much God loves each one of us.  How God longs for us to turn to Him and His Son, Jesus.  He longs for us to be perfected and complete, so He can bring us Home where He lives in love, joy and peace.He made a Way for us through Jesus Christ to walk through the troubles of the world in joy. Walk with me!So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:4