School..........we endure it to learn, grow, mature, and one day get a job, but despite the long term positives it is tough sometimes! I started my Senior year two weeks ago and its a tough one for sure! I am in the Running Start program and going for nursing, Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry are slowly taking over my life! Today is Saturday, but I spent the day studying Ions, the planes and cavities of the body, and the organelles of the cell! But thankfully the Lord blessed me with Emily Hostager as my friend and she came over and joined the A&P study session!
On the note of school being hard and often a trial, the Lord gave us this encouragement:
James 1:2-4
"Consider it Pure JOY my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds(school included!), because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."
Pure Joy is a joy that lasts even when your up till 1am studying for a test, Pure Joy is joy that lasts even when you loose a friend......it may not seem like it at the time, but that was part of Gods Plan for you, Pure Joy is joy even when others don't include you. That gives you reason to be with the best friend you could ever have, Jesus Christ, Pure Joy is finding joy in the weaknesses that holds you captive each and every day. They give you the chance to run and pursue Christ and find freedom.
We are called to have Pure Joy because all these experiences are ordained by Christ and they keep us reaching for and clinging onto Him for His endurance.
Even Paul, the Apostle of Jesus had weaknesses and trials,.......but he rejoiced and praised God for them.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made strong 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 find JOY in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in difficulties. For when I am weak then I am strong."
Pure Joy is found only in communion and fellowship with Christ. Only he can give us the endurance to get through our trials and overcome our weaknesses. He endured the greatest trial for our sake and calls us to do the same.
Hebrews 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entanglesus, and let us run the race with endurance, the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY set before Him, endured the cross despising the shame and sat down at the right hand of the thrown of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and loose heart, but find JOY in Him."
Through Him, we can endure anything that is thrown at us in our lives. First, because He ordained them and second, because "He is faithful; He will not let you go through trials or be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you go through trials or are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can find JOY and stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13-14
Next time God guides you into a trial that seems to much to bear, or you are being tempted, find JOY in the situation and run toward the Fathers arms. They are always open and His lap is the best one curl up in and find comfort! It is the Fathers JOY to be surrounded by the Children He loves.
