James 1:2-3

James 1:2-3 ~ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

"Count it all joy" somehow even that seems like a trial at times. Oh, how bad my heart wants to be.

As I look at my heart and life this particular verse convicts me to the core. Over the past few years I have been though more in my personal life then I care to remember. While I am so thankful in the ways that I have been able to see the Lord work in my life and the life of those around me, I still deep down think that if I knew what it would cost to get to where the Lord has stretched (hopefully read as "grown") me too..... There is NO way I would have volunteered to go though that pain of being stretched.

Good thing that God knows that, that He is willing to be the faithful one to us, even and especially when we "don't want to". As you continue to read though James 1 you can just see how much God blesses us when we turn to Him and consider it joy to be with Him in those trials. There is that saying that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Its true, especially with a christian that depends on the Lord. When you go to the Lord and are able to depend on Him for strength in your trials, there is joy in strength of the Lord in how He works in your life. Its less about you fixing it and all about Him being in control.

Which comes to the patience part.... I did a post about this not to many posts ago... God doesn't all always fix things in the way we want them to or as quickly... this gives us room to grow in the patience area.. something that I need SO badly... I am not good at waiting on anything, so this is defiantly an area that I see God working on in me. Praise God for any growth in that area!! Since there is no way that I have had any part in it.

Anyway its getting late and I probably have rambled, I am hoping to be able to get back to doing my devotionals online. Now that the pregnancy is no longer making me completely out of it... And praise God for antibiotics as well!!! As the last 4 weeks I have been suffering with a infection that had no other signs other than a headache. I feel like a new person now :D See... I have joy that that trial is over.. have to admit it was harder when my head was pounding to find anything joyful about that... though I was so blessed by the faithful care of my husband!

God is SO good always!
night night