| Pure joy ahh . . . the warmth of sunshine, a stroll along a Jersey beach, sharing laughter with family and friends . . . |
| What’s your pure joy? Taking a bubble bath, hiking a mountain, reading a good book? |
| But, when I think of pure joy, and read in James 1:2 that I should “consider it pure joy when I face trials of many kinds”, instantly my emotion detaches from these thoughts. |
| James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” |
I believe it intellectually, but rejoicing in my trials, certainly doesn’t come instantly.
| Those who sustained injuries, or are suffering the loss of loved ones. in the Las Vegas shooting have much grief to process. |
| Those diagnosed with terminal cancer, or those who lost a son or daughter to drugs, suicide, or an accident have massive amounts of pain to process too. This is not to be taken lightly or ignored. |
| But, in the final run, after the pain has been leaned into, and the anger, fear, guilt, shame, embarrassment, disappointment, and sadness have been felt and faced into, only then can one begin to come to a new light of understanding. |
| The understanding that God is drawing you to Him in your sufferings.” Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world.” |
| Even through this evil, as you lean into God, He will bring wholeness to your soul. |
| Think of your suffering as the Refiner’s fire making you more like the Refiner. A fire that brings you into a deeper relationship with Jesus as you recognize your trials are putting you in a position where you can share in the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings. |
| Your head and heart are disconnected. That’s how we become “double-minded and unstable in all our ways.” James 1:8 |
| Knowing this intellectually is onething. Yet, when faced with a trial – ~ discouragement, fear, or dread naturally rise to the top. |
| The term double-minded comes from the Greek word dipsuchos which means a person with two minds or souls. |
| dis ~ twice, of two minds, wavering, uncertain, divided |
| It comes from two Greek words. |
| psuche ~ the vital breath, breath of life |
| So if I’m double-minded it’s like having two independent wills. I am divided in interest. Double-souled. I’m not united, but in conflict with myself. |
| If you’re in conflict with someone, if you’re in significant debt, or if you discover you have an incurable illness, pure joy doesn’t automatically pop into your mind, right? |
| Though you agree with what James says about trials, you probably don’t instantly consider it pure joy when facing “trials of many kinds”. |
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| Yet, to be growing into a more mature and complete woman, suffering is part of the plan for all of us. It’s through suffering we inwardly transform to reflect Jesus more clearly. |
| Likewise, a silver refiner breaks up the natural ore, then places it in the fire to remove the dross. After much firing, he knows the silver has reached its purest form when he can clearly see his reflection in it. |
| Proverbs 17:3 “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” |
| How you perceive your trials and suffering is key to your joy. |
| Understanding that God is for you and not against you, and that your inner wholeness is God’s design for your joy. |
| Where are you double-minded? |
| Maybe it’s as simple as thinking you want a cleaner home, but you’re unwilling to put the effort into cleaning it. |
| You believe intellectually that “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.” Phil 4:19, but you feel anxious about having the money to pay your bills. |
| Or you believe Psalm 139:14 “you are fearfully and wonderfully made”, yet you feel insecure. |
| As you grow in inner peace and move away from your conflict and double-mindedness (dipsuchos) you will begin to experience the pure joy that James refers to. |
| This kind of growth is the abundant life of which Jesus spoke. |
| Often we build emotional walls that we think will benefit us and bring the peace we long for, but in the long run they hinder us from “pure joy”. |
| God longs to bring you the pure joy that comes from being at one with yourself. |
| Transformation Prayer Ministry is a tool that helps you identify these walls (lies) and present them to the Lord for His truth to be known in this area at a heart level. It helps make those inner connections of your intellect and emotion. It removes double-mindedness in that area and brings you joy. |
| Paul writes in Romans 5:3-5 “. . . we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, . . .” |
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