Joy is Jesus.

I'm going to be completely honest with you, my friend. The past two weeks have been extremely challenging and continue to be. I feel like these weeks have defeated me and at the end of a long day I fall to my knees in tears wondering why. Why is life so challenging right now? Why are people purposefully hurting my feelings? Why?

Every morning when I woke up the past two weeks, I have recited one of my all time favorite Bible verses, Romans 8:18, "the pain that you have been feeling can't compare to the joy that is coming."

That joy is Jesus and solely Jesus. 

As my faith has been and is still being tested right now, I randomly opened my Bible to the book of James. (let me just tell you, that was so Jesus) Right there on page 1528 of my Bible was the first page of James and at the top of the first chapter it read "Trials and Temptations". Ha, nice one Jesus. Then, right there as I began reading it said this, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..."(James 1:2) PURE JOY? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to find joy, pure joy when I being emotionally, physically, and spiritually hurt? HOW? I cried, like a hot mess emphasis on the mess cry for a solid ten minutes. I prayed to Jesus with tears pouring out of my eyes that He would reveal Himself to me. In an instant, I thought of reciting Romans 8:18. That I did and right there, He revealed Himself to me by reminding me what joy really means. 

I re-read the second verse of James like this, "Consider Jesus, the pure One, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..."

There it was, lean on Him. Trust Him. Love Him. He is still faithful. He is still Sovereign. He still loves you.  Just look to Him. The verse continues to read, "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." It doesn't just stop there verse four continues to say, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

We are constantly being formed to who Jesus created us to be.

Later in chapter 1 of James in verse 12 its says this, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

I urge you to read James 1 and perhaps the rest of the book. There is so much truth that has been spoken into my life tonight via this book.