Consider it all joy. Those were my first thoughts as I woke up this morning. I sensed the Lord had something to say to me, but was I ready to listen and hear it? Honestly, I didn’t sleep as much as I would have liked during the night and tried to go back to sleep, but sleep did not come. Instead, I kept thinking: consider it all joy. It was time to get up and spend some time in James chapter one.

The last several weeks have been full. We’ve had lots of visitors to our therapy programs in Guatemala, including our largest team ever of 22; I have struggled with recurrent sinus infections; we’re in the middle of a new training for our rehabilitation promoters in Canilla; we’ve had to deal with interpersonal conflicts within our team; we continue to train our current staff; someone pointed out a nail in my tire as I dropped a group off at the airport, and more. For a couple days, I just wanted to run away and hide. Other times, I just wanted someone else to fix the problem.

This morning, though, as I thought about the verses in James 1, I was reminded of something my pastor often said: “You’re in training for ruling and reigning.” The struggles and stresses of the last several weeks may not have been joyful, but I can, as the New Living Translation of the Bible describes, “consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

I sometimes still want life to be easy and smooth, but troubles are part of living in this world. In fact, Jesus promised that there would be trouble in this world, but He also encouraged us to take heart, as He has overcome the world. What I’m seeing now about so much that has troubled me in the last few weeks is the opportunity I’ve been given. What an opportunity to consider it all joy as I look to Him, learn His ways, and develop into the person He has created to me.

The struggles are not to be avoided or endured, but an opportunity to grow in faith and love. Starting today, I’m going to consider it an opportunity for great joy. There will be troubles, but I can be strong and courageous, knowing He will lead and guide me through. He is faithful to complete all He has promised, so I can live and walk by faith, using all things as an opportunity to trust Him more. Father, help me to consider it all joy and look to you for the wisdom for each day.

What about you? What trails are you going through today? Can you consider it all joy, knowing that the circumstances may not be joyful, but they can be used to develop and grow your faith. What is God teaching and saying to you today in and through whatever circumstances you find yourself in?

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4, NASB)