"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Perseverance (NIV), patience (KJV), hypomonē--Greek
The Strong's definition:1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance
a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings
b) patiently, and steadfastly
2) a patient, steadfast waiting for
3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
When facing trials, the joy comes in knowing what they will produce if I yield to what God wants to work in me through them. The joy doesn't come from the trials, it comes from what they produce--like the "joy" of childbirth. The joy comes not from the pain but from what will come after the pain. We're being "conformed to the image of his Son" (Rom. 8:29) who "for the joy set before him endured the cross." (Heb. 12:2)
Thank you, Lord, that you give me the strength to endure trials and I know that you will use them in my life so that I may be mature and complete--not lacking anything. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, Jesus, and the joy set before me.
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