GUEST BLOG: AL JOLLEY

JAMES 1:2-4 

"My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials;

knowing this, that the testing of your faith worketh patience.  

But let patience have her perfecting work 

that you may be perfect and complete." 

JOY IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS:

Perseverance produces faith

James has learned the "Christian secret to a happy life." 

Joy in trial as we persevere and our faith is perfected.

I must learn JOY in painful trials.  Even though these trials are especially painful, God is using them to make us His holy people.  As Paul writes, "For our light affliction which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things that are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

My life these days is off and on filled with pain.  I must learn to rejoice in that pain because God is doing something eternally better--He is making me more like Jesus--and oh my do I need it!  I long to live in this joy that makes me more like Him.  Thank you Jesus for these many painful trials and temptations.  I rejoice in You and long more than anything to be like you.  I love you Jesus.  Thank you for this pain which brings me the greatest joy of all!  Make me that happy holy boy. The other one is really no fun! (Reuben Welch.)