Joy Management (part 3)

Joy is cultivated by making a fairly radical choice.  It is the decision to adopt heaven's perspective regarding my present set of circumstances.  James 1:2-4 tells us this:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you might become mature and complete not lacking anything.

Here's the progression of thought:

• Choose joy in the middle of trial?
• Why?  Because the trial you are in will force you to persevere.
• Why is that good?  Because perseverance develops maturity and character which will sustain you through the rest of your life.

Heaven values my character more than my comfort.  Trials force me to choose what I will value most.  When I adopt heaven's values, I can become thankful for how God is using my difficulties.

Think of how Paul responded in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Why was Paul thankful for his thorn?

• It helped him understand God's sufficient grace.
• It kept him from being overcome with pride.
• It became a point through which Christ's power came to rest on him.
• It resulted in his ultimate strengthening (when I am weak then I am strong).
• He learned that nothing can stop God's grace...not weakness, not insults, not hardships, not persecutions, and not difficulties (impossibilities).
• It helped him overcome dread and fear because his life was in the hands of all sufficient God.

How about you?  Are you choosing to adopt heaven's view of your hardships and weaknesses today?  Are you allowing his joy to be your strength even when you feel weak?