As is the usual custom for
me, I opened my Bible app to know the verse for the day. Expecting a beautiful
promise to come up on the screen, enough to rejuvenate me for the day, much to
my dismay, the verse was ‘Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind
come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when
your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.’ (James 1:2-3) For a
moment, I thought, ‘Huh! Easier said than done.’ Who finds joy amidst hardships
and trials? Who considers having faith like a mustard seed, while facing
tribulations worse than one can imagine?
And that is Christian life.
Jesus defeated sin on the cross. As we believe in Him, we believe in the power
of God who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). But, does any of this mean our
life will be a bed of roses? Never! The day we accept Christ as our Saviour, He
gives us the power and authority over serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19). But,
that doesn’t guarantee a life full of only good things. We, as Christians, will
have a life just like others...a life full of highs and lows. But, as children
of the Most High, we have to learn to find pure joy amidst our trials.
This is why many Christians
fall apart when they face trials. We have been taught by grace preachers that
life is a fairy tale...speak positive words and whoosh! everything is just
about fine. If it were so, wouldn’t everyone run to Christianity? Some of us
may face sorrows in heaps, and find it preachy when I refer to the James 1:2-3.
But, that’s the truth. And God allows us to face trials and hardships. This
might contradict our perception of God as our compassionate Father. How can a
good God let us face troubles, instead of eliminating them? In this world ruled
by the powers of darkness, He does not put a full stop to our troubles, but
helps us develop perseverance when our faith is tested. There may be many views
opposed to this. But, any view that does not help you be joyful during trials
is a useless one. For, when we face trials (which are unavoidable), God wants
us to stop lamenting, shake the dust off our pants, fight it out like one of
God’s soldiers and become victorious. And in all of this, find pure joy.
I can say this with confidence,
that my Father enabled me to find joy during trials. Watching your mother fight
for life, watching her lay helpless as doctors advise her complete bed rest and
watching her recover with the help of Divine intervention made me question my
beliefs. Didn’t I think prayers would always be answered instantly? Didn’t I
think all problems would vanish the moment I pray? What went wrong? Didn’t we
speak positive words or words of healing every single day? But, that’s what God
made me realise...everything happens at His right time! It’s not always the way
I want it. It’s His ways, not mine (Isaiah 55:8). He has always been faithful.
He will never change! Through our trials, as He shows us His faithfulness, He
wants us to develop perseverance. As God worked behind the scenes, He taught us
His timing is perfect. Today, as my mom recovers extraordinarily, she smiles
with glee, because God enabled us to find pure joy amidst our trials. Yes, we
have stumbled. Yes, we have fallen. But the One who is faithful picked us up and
carried us through the wilderness.
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| Picture Courtesy: Google Images |
Even when everything around
seems dark and devastating, He trusts you and me to find joy. As Habakkuk says,
‘Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the
vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even
though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will
rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!’ (Habakkuk
3:17-18)
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