Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 15, 2024
James 1:2-5
2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. 5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask.
Good Morning! Joy is available to all!
It's often challenging to view our trials with joy. We tend to see them as burdens, irritations, and tough times. However, a few years back, a group of educators introduced the concept of a growth mindset. Those with a growth mindset view each challenge as an opportunity. This is a stark contrast to those with a fixed mindset who perceive a challenge as a dead end.
Imagine looking at something hard with the thought, “I can’t do this!” vs. “I can’t do this yet.” When we look at something as impossible, we can’t see any solution and we want to throw up our hands and walk away. Even though we know this challenge represents the best way to go, we give up on our plan or our dream.
In Matthew 19:26, we read, “With God, all things are possible.” We often forget that this doesn’t mean that all things are easy. We must also remember that God’s time and ways are not ours. We are called to step out in faith and endure the challenges so that we might grow into a mature faith.
YES, our challenges are occasions for joy! Let's not forget that joy is not the absence of problems but the presence of God's wisdom and the opportunity for growth. Try approaching a hardship as an opportunity instead of an annoyance. Asking God for wisdom will help us bridge these gaps and turn our challenges into stepping stones for spiritual growth.
Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. Oh, what a silly group of children we can be, Thank you for loving us even in our times of challenge. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God provides for our needs.
Look for joy in all things! Pastor Liz
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