The lesson this week is delivered by Callahan Maynard, a member of the Broken Arrow Church of Christ and a frequent contributor to Open Door.
Enduring trials is “pure joy?” Surely not.
Perhaps our struggle with this idea is the thought that “joy” equals “happiness.”
In this lesson, Callahan explores this and other powerful ideas presented in James 1.
“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. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
James 1:2-8 (NIV)