Consider It Pure Joy!
Every so often, I will put together a brief article that is based on a religious principle that I may be struggling with.
I have a hard time with staying positive and staying faithful to my beliefs.
I attend a church that welcomes people that are in a similar position as me.
Some would say "fallen people," but since we live in a "fallen" world, aren't we all "fallen?"Anyway, enough with the introduction.
"Consider it pure joy!" One of the most joyful opening lines in the Bible, but if you read on, check out what the rest of the passage says...
Here's the passage in it's entirety: 2 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.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:2-7 NIV).
Let's break it down, shall we? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (James 1:2 NIV)" Be happy that you are facing trials and tribulations.
Be happy that things are in the sh*tter...
What??? Why??? How come??? "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:3 NIV)" You're going to test my faith?My faith in what? Why are You testing my faith, why not just give me what I want, when I want it, how I want it? "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1:4 NIV)" Oh, so I can be mature and complete, not lacking anything...
Well, I wouldn't be lacking anything if you just gave me what I'm asking for.
Just give me what I want! "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
(James 1:5 NIV)" I'm asking, why don't you give generously to me when I ask You for something? "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
(James 1:6 NIV)" Believe me, I am not doubting.
I want what I'm asking for...
I'm pretty sure that it's all that I want.
I'm not going to change my mind...
probably.
"That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7 NIV)" But I'm not going to change my mind...
I don't think...
"he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:8 NIV)" Oh, I get it now.
I have to have conviction in my beliefs, but not just that.
I also have to have faith in my beliefs and have faith that God will provide me with what my heart truly desires.
I have to be solid, or have a solid foundation, like a rock and not like a wave in the ocean.
Not be "double minded" so be honest and trustworthy.
Ah, there's that word again, "trustworthy".
That's a topic for another day.
So, what is it that you desire?
I have a hard time with staying positive and staying faithful to my beliefs.
I attend a church that welcomes people that are in a similar position as me.
Some would say "fallen people," but since we live in a "fallen" world, aren't we all "fallen?"Anyway, enough with the introduction.
"Consider it pure joy!" One of the most joyful opening lines in the Bible, but if you read on, check out what the rest of the passage says...
Here's the passage in it's entirety: 2 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.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:2-7 NIV).
Let's break it down, shall we? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (James 1:2 NIV)" Be happy that you are facing trials and tribulations.
Be happy that things are in the sh*tter...
What??? Why??? How come??? "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:3 NIV)" You're going to test my faith?My faith in what? Why are You testing my faith, why not just give me what I want, when I want it, how I want it? "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1:4 NIV)" Oh, so I can be mature and complete, not lacking anything...
Well, I wouldn't be lacking anything if you just gave me what I'm asking for.
Just give me what I want! "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
(James 1:5 NIV)" I'm asking, why don't you give generously to me when I ask You for something? "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
(James 1:6 NIV)" Believe me, I am not doubting.
I want what I'm asking for...
I'm pretty sure that it's all that I want.
I'm not going to change my mind...
probably.
"That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7 NIV)" But I'm not going to change my mind...
I don't think...
"he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:8 NIV)" Oh, I get it now.
I have to have conviction in my beliefs, but not just that.
I also have to have faith in my beliefs and have faith that God will provide me with what my heart truly desires.
I have to be solid, or have a solid foundation, like a rock and not like a wave in the ocean.
Not be "double minded" so be honest and trustworthy.
Ah, there's that word again, "trustworthy".
That's a topic for another day.
So, what is it that you desire?
Source...