It. Doesn't. Work.
As I sit here trying to decide what to type next, my bible is open to James 1. I know a lot about the book of James. Well, at least I used to. Memorized that book a few years back for bible quizzing I did. James is blunt, blunter than most. He's like a fiery preacher with his hand slamming down upon the pulpit. But he speaks truth. Real truth. So I read the first chapter as a friend had suggested. Not hard. He may be a bit harsh but he is easy to read. It's nice. Anyway, I read the verse every Christian knows, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds". Hmm. At this point, the verse doesn't seem so familiar. Maybe I had not looked at it in this light before. Trials of many kinds, huh? Not trials of one kind? I guess not. Trials of MANY kinds . . . ouch. I don't like trials. I mean, come on - who does? But many trials? At the same time? Dude, not cool. But James knew what he was talking about. I mean, here I am in the 21st century moping around due to the fact that these "many trials" are bothering the heck out of me! Okay James, I get it. You know what bothers humans to death from the dawn on time till now. Now what am I supposed to do about it? Consider them joy? JOY?! Ha! How exactly? He doesn't say. I guess that's up to me.
How am I supposed to consider joy all the little stupid aspects of my life that have got me all upset? I have got to do it. Nothing else will work. I guess I could start by praying that I would be joyful. Yes, that would be a start. Then maybe I could thank God for them . . .ahhh but I'm not thankful for them! :( But okay I will thank God for the little trials in my life. Something good must come out of them sooner or later. After all, doesn't the Word say, "All things work together for good, to those who are called according to His purpose"? . . . or something like that? So that means my small trials are all working together for good, right?! That is good news. So next, maybe I should try next to see HOW they work together, look for the reasons that these trials have become so prominent in my life at this point. God must have something awesome in mind. He always does.
Hmm I just thought of something. I know God loves each and every one of us human beings. He is just that awesome. But still, I am sure He gets fed up with us ALL THE TIME. We are humans and therefore make mistakes constantly. I guess I kinda think that maybe we are all those "trials of many kinds" to God. We are the little, stupid, and sometimes (we think) unimportant things that build up and become so unbearable. But God still loves us and He has a plan for each of our lives that we cannot possibly understand or ever try to comprehend. But we are His people and He knows that at the end, everything will work out just right. We need to see the good in each of the trials we encounter just like God sees us as righteous because we have accepted His amazing grace. Okay, so it's not quite the same as God loving us . . .but it's what I need to imagine right now to understand how I am to consider these trials pure joy. It won't be easy. Not at all. And I know sometimes I will want to give up and just take the easy way out and feel sorry for myself. But God has good reasons for what happens to me. He knows what I need. He loves me and wants the best for me, and so I suppose these trials are what I need to take me to the place where God wants me to be.
And that's where I want to be too.
