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Steve Tandy, Pulpit Minister
Mark Yeakley, Involvement Minister
Toby Levering, Youth Minister
Teen
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by Toby Levering
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May 18, 2008
Pure Joy
Surgery. Cancer. Sickness. Tornadoes. Pain. Heart
Attack. Kidney Stones. Shingles. Earthquakes. Lupus. Stroke. Fire.
Hospital. Virus. Hospice. Destruction. Suffering. Difficult pregnancy.
Check the bulletin at any local church across America
and you’ll find these words under “Prayer List” or “Family Concerns.”
None of us is immune from the curse of a broken world. As much as we
would like to see the bulletin and our lives free of these words, there
is a deeper purpose in the rain coming down.
James would call these things opportunities for pure
joy. Though I doubt we’ll ever re-title that section of the bulletin as
such. Allow me to respond for you: “What!?! James must have been crazy,
insensitive or at least never went through (insert your trial here)!!”
Read it again: “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.”
(James 1:2-5)
We have such a temporal view of suffering. Our sight is
temporal. This is why Christians often fall under the tremendous
pressure imposed by the trials of life.
The most difficult part about trials is that they are
circumstances which are beyond our control.
We have no real choice but to put our trust in Someone
that knows better and wait. Until then, about the best you can do is
pray and watch for God to work.
Think about your own troublesome times. Aren’t these
the times when you rely on God more heavily, your prayers are more
fervent and consistent, your thoughts more directed to His presence and
your heart more searching His presence?
Aren’t these the moments where you should be all the time? And as much
as we would never wish them on anyone else, these are the moments of
pure joy indeed.