Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Listen to the Word

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." (James 1:2)

Christmas can be the least joyful time of the year. The hectic pace of the season causes our anxiety to spike. The financial pressure to buy everything on everybody's wish list causes debt and dismay. Our grief over lost loved ones and lost dreams shifts from being a dull ache to being a throbbing pain during the holidays.

James has some weird and wonderful advice for us during these times when we don't feel like rejoicing: rejoice anyway! He says we can consider it pure joy when life is hard. God is so good and so strong and so creative that our difficulties cannot defeat him. He can use them to show us his faithfulness and strengthen our faith. We can rejoice no matter what, because he is Lord no matter what.

Live the Word

Reflect on a difficulty you are currently experiencing. Ask God to show you something good he is doing through that challenge you face, and rejoice for it.