"Good to.....no, great to meet you!"
This is one of my favorite verses in the New Testament. Most of us have read this verse at least ten times over the years, maybe more. In it's initial appearance it just seems to say that we should take joy in the trials we encounter in our daily lives. However, the verse screams much more.
Paul, over and over again, in his letters to Timothy, the church at Galatia, and others mentions taking "joy" in trials and sufferings. As I was meditating on this Scripture, the Spirit of God asked me "when" I should take joy in the trials and sufferings. I wasn't sure. But then I began to dissect the verse, word by word.
Paul says to "meet" trials with joy. The Lord showed me that I am to take joy when I initially "meet" the said trial. Let me ask you this: if you discovered that you had a flat tire on a busy highway and your'e already late for an appointment, and you reacted with immediate anger and/or panic, how difficult would it be to turn your spirit and attitude around and grasp joy?
Now, what if the same thing happened, only this time you pulled over, looked at the tire, and said, "Lord, thank you for this trial. I thank you and praise You, for you may be protecting me from possible hard. Lord, thank You for the patience you are going to teach me. Lord, I wait upon you and take joy in this circumstance because I know who holds it in His hand,....You, Lord. Amen." Here, you have MET the trial, initially, with joy and thanksgiving, making the rest of the trial easier to remain joyful, obedient, and wise in your decision-making.
Lesson: Meet trials, initially, with joy as God is going to move in your life and in this circumstance to make you more like Christ in your faith.
Created over 4 years ago
