Hebrews 12:2
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Endurance has with it the promise of joy. However, it does not promise either happiness or joy in the process.
In the world joy is seen as an emotion of pleasure, delight.
We seldom equate discomfort with joy, and even less so when we have to suffer through anything for even a moment.
So the Apostle James asks us to consider and even embrace all trials we face with joy, because it is in the endurance of the trials that our character is tested and prepared for growth in faith for the next season. This notion of having to endure to achieve the promised joy often challenges the prevailing attitude about how our life as Christians should unfold.
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance,
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
We are as followers of Christ Jesus a future minded (prophetic) people, who must look upon the trials in this world, not as obstacles, but as stepping stones into a greater level of maturity.
This does not mean that we go looking for pain or even stay in it when it comes our way; however, when it comes, we must face it with an attitude of joy. Knowing that whatever we face, God will work it out for our good.
We are called to be at peace, in the knowledge that the enemy will never pull one over on God.
He promises not to leave us or forsake us; however, in our trials, we can choose to believe that He has.
Our sense of defeat is never God’s defeat; He is always victorious, therefore always joyous. However, we can lose our joy when we fail to appropriate His victory in any situation.
We must always focus on the promise of joy set before us in Him, knowing that any trials we experience are always temporary.
Psalm 30:5b
“...weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning
Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
