James 1:1-4 — Hard Times Aren't A Waste

READ THIS: James 1:1-4

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 


WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

James says WHENEVER we face trials, not IF we face them...and that's facts. Life is really rough a lot of the time. But, what's neat is that God doesn't let a hard time go to waste. If we push through the hard times, the "trials," then we grow in amazing ways, becoming mature and gaining character we didn't have before. It's kind of like the whole caterpillar turning into a butterfly thing. Being in that cocoon was dark and scary, but there is so much joy in a butterfly BECAUSE of that dark, scary time. 


THINK ABOUT IT:

1. What is the trial that you're facing right now? What's your "cocoon?"

2. How might you be growing and becoming a stronger, better person through it?


TRY THIS:

Write down a positive word that you would use to describe yourself and think about some hard times that might've created that positive thing in you. Take time to thank God for that growth!

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