Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds
Many believers think that our Christian life should be problem-free and devoid of trials, and yet Jesus warned that in this world we will have tribulations. Our personal trials are a test of our faith and the daily difficulties we face in life that help to develop our Christian character and to mature our spiritual walk. So, consider the various trials we face as pure joy, and the inevitable difficulties that come our way as a glorious opportunity to rejoice in the Lord. Sometimes the difficulties we face are the result of our own wrong choices. Sometimes they come cloaked in the enticing wrapping-paper of ungodly temptations. And sometimes they are the fruit of ungodly harassment and unfair treatment from a Christ-rejecting and sinful world. Whatever the source of our trials, we can choose one of two routes. We can seek to battle through in our own strength, wondering if God really cares as the pressure increases until we finally give up. Or…we can remember that God is in control, we can rejoice in the Lord and consider it pure joy, recognizing it as one of the various trials which God will use to fine-tune our faith and increase our dependence upon Him. Through our tribulations, we can allow Him to develop our Christian character and bring us closer to spiritual maturity.
Spiritual Steve 