Words of Encouragement – Joy

James 1:2-4

2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. (NLT)

(Joy –Cheerfulness, calm delight, calmly happy)

When troubles or trials come our way we are to be joyful or we are to take this opportunity to show the world the joy of the Lord or the joy that we have in the Lord. Joy is the opposite of sadness. When we face trials in our life we are not to be sad, but to be cheerful knowing that the Lord is with us and that He will bring us through this trial, so that our faith in Him will increase. Jesus saw the cross not as some bitter thing He must do, but He saw it as a joyful thing to do for the salvation of those who are lost. Because Jesus saw the cross as joy we need to see our trials as joy that will bring us closer to Christ. True joy comes from knowing Christ. When trials come see them as opportunities to share your joy of Christ, so that those who lack joy can see your joy in the Lord and come to Jesus.

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