“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Back in the day, my mom liked watching a program called ‘Hee Haw’ and one of the songs that has always stuck with me and it seems to correspond well to the above verses in James as well. It went like this; “Gloom, despair, and agony on me. Deep, dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me.” I’ve been thinking about making it my theme song for my stump named Job. But, it didn’t have anything to do with luck; good or bad. Last week Thursday as I was being transferred from my room to the Wellness Center that is located in the Independent Living section of this facility, to do my PT, the person pushing my wheelchair asked about the ‘story’ of my amputation. The journey from my cell to the Wellness Center takes between five to ten minutes depending on who is pushing my wheelchair and as I finished telling the story, I shared that I named my stump ‘Job’. They asked, “who is Job?” Ka ching!!! Seeds in the ground and ready for the Holy Spirit to take over.
I am sure that you must know somebody with a few more challenges than you have. I am sure that these Haitian school children have seen their share of problems the past few years. When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy as you use it to plant some seeds for the Holy Spirit to work with. James reminds us that you know when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” These verses in the book of James address three points for Job and me and hopefully even you might gather a snippet on this Monday morning.
First, trials are going happen to Christians. James writes ‘when you encounter,’ not ‘if’ you encounter. If you're experiencing trials, welcome to the group of many Christians who have had them before you. Going through a trial is one thing that pulls us together and closer to Christ. Second, trials come in various categories. They may be physical, emotional, financial, relational, or spiritual. They may slip in unexpectedly and knock on the door of your business, your church, or your home. My stump Job got the ball rolling when I was sending out my morning devotion on May, 10 for Trinity HOPE. They may arrive at any time or in any season. Like Job, they may come suddenly, like a car accident or a natural catastrophe. They can be directly related to our own sin, the sin of others, or not related to sin at all. A trial can be like a rock hitting the water. You don't cause the jolt, but you're impacted by it. You're just standing there, and suddenly the smooth lake of your life surges into giant waves and almost drowns you.
And lastly, trials put our faith to the test. No matter what its source or intensity, there's something about suffering that simplifies life and draws us back to Jesus. During this time of my intense trial, I spent my days with Job in the hospital bed listening to many Psalms on my phone. From Psalms to prayer and waiting for the next direction from God. He has a plan and a purpose me, you and for these Haitian school kids. Don’t face your trials alone, seek Jesus.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay