How to Respond to Trouble

James 1:1–4 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

“I said yes to the Lord and I thought it would be easier!!”

How am I supposed to have joy when everything is going wrong?!

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

God is using suffering to shapes us into the picture of his Son

James 1:4 ESV

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

You can rejoice because God is forming you into somebody that is UNSHAKEABLE in CHRIST!!!

James 1:3 NLT

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Breakdown

What is the Lord trying to teach me with this trouble?

What part of my character is trying to develop?

What have I been holding on to that the Lord is trying to shake off me so that I my JOY doesn’t rest in that thing?