Joy in Trials
Key Scriptures: James 1:2-4
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.
Lesson One: Get ready for the hardship.
• Being ready for hardship helps us to avoid asking, why is this happening to me?—and allows us to ask, what do you want to do in my life through this trial?
John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
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Lesson Two: Thank God for the hardship.
• Hardship and trials are the means by which God shapes us into mature and complete disciples
• Thanking God moves us from being a hearer of the Word—to a doer of the Word
James 1:2-4, 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.
James 1:22-25, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
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Lesson Three: Reshape our view of hardship.
• James was written to followers of Jesus who knew real hardship and persecution
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Lesson Four: Allow the hardship to cause me to lean on Jesus and not to blame on Jesus.
• Allow the hardship to cause us to lean into Jesus like never before