Pure Joy?

Scripture Focus:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds." — James 1:2

Moving Forward:
This phrase, ‘pure joy’, stood out to me this morning. When I think of something pure I think of something made of one substance. The definition of pure actually calls it ‘something that is not mixed’ with anything else. Even in precious metals, the more pure it is the more valuable it is. 

But, joy doesn’t seem to work like this, not pure joy. A life of pure joy is not a life of ONLY successes, good things, and the easy road. Pure joy is a life mixed with hardships, opposition, and enemies. As the old saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” Whenever you face difficulties, you can embrace ‘pure joy’ because of what it is doing for you. Resistance is producing what the easy things in life never do.

Resistance produces what comfort never will.

• Resistance builds strength.
  

• Opposition opens doors.
  

• Trials teach lessons.
  

• Pressure repositions you for greatness.

Greatness is developed in the classroom of difficulty. Less Brown said, “If you do what is easy, your life will be hard. If you do what is hard, your life will be easy.” I know that doing hard things doesn’t necessarily guarantee an easy life. But, committing to press through the hard things will take you to places others will never get to go. 

God is using these things to refine you into the person of glory that you were created to be.

Today, don’t look at difficult things for what they are in the moment. Focus on what they are unlocking for your future. Pure joy is a life of mixture. It is a life where God uses the hard things, the unfair things, the things others meant for harm and positions you in a place of prominence. This painful realities today are actually the keys to your promotion tomorrow. 

Today, choose joy. Because you can.

Challenge Question:
Have you ever thought about the necessity of ‘bad things’ in your life to produce God’s will for your life?

Journal Prompt:
Think about the difficulty things in your life right now. Right down possible ‘good things’ that could come as a result of. 

Additional Scriptures:

• Genesis 50:20

• Nehemiah 8:10

• Romans 15:13

• John 16:22

Prayer:
Father, I choose joy today. I choose to see what will be and not get focused on what is. You are faithful and I believe you are going to work this for my good because I love you and and I am called according to your purpose. Thank you! In Jesus’ Name, In Jesus' Name, Amen.

* Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash