Caught in the CloseoutSample

CLOSEOUT

“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.”

—James 1:2–3

I was recently building a paper airplane for my 6-year-old son. I started to fold in one wing when he said, “Don't break it!” I responded by saying, “I’m not trying to break it, I’m trying to make it.”

As the words came out of my mouth, I thought, Wow—this must be how it is with God and me. I look at my life and tell God not to break it. I look at my circumstances and accuse God of not knowing what He’s doing.

In James 1:2 we’re told to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” Did you catch that? Trials… consider it pure joy. Really? Seems ridiculous, doesn’t it?

But in this passage you can see that God has plans for your life. Plans to shape you to be like Jesus in your character and priorities and that will allow you to experience and know God in a personal way. And like a great artist chipping away at a piece of stone to create a work of beauty, God is chipping away at you to bring out the person He wants you to be (and maybe you always, deep down, dreamed of being).

So, this joy in trials is not some weird, delusional kind of happy. No, this is you, paddling out through walls of whitewater, duck-diving through wave after wave, but coming back to the surface with a smile. Because you know that, though it’s exceptionally difficult to get out today, the rewards of glassy barrels await you on the outside.

This joy is not a fake, conjured-up smile—it’s a patient, persevering-through-hard-times-with-a-focus-on-the-other-side kind of joy.

I don’t know what you’re facing today. But I know there are only two kinds of people in the world – those who are in trials and those who will be. Sooner or later, you’ll be dealing with pain or temptation or disappointment in your life. But in those times, you can stand on God’s Word and know that God will use this trial for a greater good. You can endure with true joy, knowing that God is chipping away the pieces of stone that have marred you for far too long. He’s setting you free to be more like Jesus.

The next time your new board breaks or life seems to close out on you, remember that your Heavenly Father is looking down with love, saying, “I’m not trying to break you; I’m trying to make you.”

Go Deeper:

• What’s your first reaction when life closes out on you?
• Are there areas of your life in which you can feel God chipping away? Read James chapter 1 again and spend some time in prayer asking God to show you how He’s working to make you into someone new.

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