Consider it all joy....

Despite even our greatest efforts so often when we are standing at the foot of a mountain we place our face into our hands and begin to weep as we look up the mountain trying to see through the fog and clouds how far our climb will be? Will God be with us we wonder? Will He know how hard we are working to climb this mountain? Does He see how much pain we am in? 

What never stops amazing me about this great big God we serve? He is always there....even we are standing at the foot of the mountain depressed and overwhelmed, He is right there with us....The beauty is that He knows how far the climb will be, He knows how far it will be to the peak and what is waiting for us through the clouds and fog....He even knows that most of the way He will have to carry us. 

Stop for a moment and reflect on the beauty of that reality....

Let it soak in.....

Ready?

Let's Go...

In James it tells us in the first 4 verses that we are to consider it pure joy, whenever we face any trials....Yes that includes the trails of our jobs, budget, homeschool, friends, sickness, our marriages, and well just life....We are to consider it pure joy, some versions say consider it ALL joy. 

So your looking at these words thinking that is crazy how can I look up a this giant mountain I am facing a find joy in it? 

You choose to have joy, just like we choose to have faith and believe. We may not be able to see the top of that mountain but I will have joy because of my faith, because I know that God will see me through to the top of that mountain. 

Verse 3 says...."knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." (KJV) 

"for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (ESV)

I love that word steadfastness...How can our faith grow if we don't put it to use? Just like my weight loss goals...How can I loose weight if I don't exercise? God uses the trials that we face to strengthen our faith to make it steadfast, help it endure...So the question is how to do we consider it all joy as we stand at the foot of the mountain? Close your eyes and know that God is with you, and He will make you stronger...Above all you are not alone. Consider it joy that you have a God who loves you and wants to see your faith grow! 

Ready?

Let's start the Climb.