It’s in the Attitude

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. (James 1:2)

Regina drove home from work discouraged and tired. The day had started with tragic news in a text message from a friend, then spiraled downward in meetings with co-workers who refused to work with any of her ideas. As Regina was talking to the Lord, she thought it best to put the stress of the day aside and made a surprise visit with flowers to an elderly friend at a care center. Her spirits lifted as Maria shared how good the Lord was to her. She said, “I have my own bed and a chair, three meals a day, and help from the nurses here. And occasionally God sends a cardinal to my window just because He knows I love them and He loves me.”

Attitude. Perspective. As the saying goes, “Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to it.” The people James wrote to were scattered because of persecution, and he asked them to consider their perspective about difficulties. He challenged them with these words: “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2).

We are each on our own journey of learning to trust God with hard circumstances. The kind of joy-filled perspective James talked about comes as we learn to see that God can use struggles to produce maturity in our faith.

Lord, please change my attitude about hard times. Bring about joy, perseverance, and maturity in me. Amen.

When I read this devotion I was reminded of the scripture that says, for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, but it doesn’t just stop there, as children of God we have hope, despite the unjust happenings in our lives, we are never alone, He said in His word that He would give us another comforter, that he may abide with us for ever. Always remember, no matter what you are facing, God can bring times of growth out of our times of heartache. Look beyond the pain and sorrow and remember there is always sunshine after the rain and there is always something to be thankful for, hold on, keep the faith. If God brings you to it, He will see you through it.
 
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is James 1:1-12