Have I ever mentioned that I love the book of James? Well, I do.
In fact, a few of my favorite verses, which I’ve mentioned in several previous posts, are ones that are quoted often:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Even though I typically read and study from the ESV, I LOVE the way NIV tells us in verse 2 to “consider it PURE joy.”
Wait. Trials are “pure joys”? Really? You’re probably thinking, “Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
To me, “count it ALL joy,” means counting every single one of your trials–ALL of them–as joys. And “considering it pure joy” means your trials are totally, completely, unequivocally a JOY to face…
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Deeper Cries Out 