Two weeks ago we found a nice wood patio set. It’s small enough to fit on our patio but seats 4 people too. We’ve been sitting out there nearly every day since we got it. I even put Tyler’s portable high chair on one of the chairs because he loves eating lunch outside. Tyler is so much fun right now. He seems like such a big boy walking and talking all the time. I am amazed at how much he can talk especially with phrases now. He’ll say, “Mama, up please” or “More na-na please” and then say “thank you”! He got his two top molars this week so that was hard for the little guy. He was grumpy and had a couple of rough nights because of it. But we discovered that despite all the teething pain he still loves chocolate chip cookies!

It’s been a good week. Bobby and I both started our summer goals and I think we are off to a good start…how are you doing if you started? I’d love to hear how it’s going if you’ve chosen a goal. If you haven’t chosen one yet, please consider one and let me know so I can add it to our list!

My spiritual goal for the summer is to memorize the book of James. I have three friends who chose this goal as well, so it is great to have the accountability. As of today I’m through verse 5 and I’ve been thinking a lot about verses 2 and 3–

“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 will be mature and complete not lacking anything.”

We should never doubt whether our trials will produce something positive. They are designed to grow in us a patience and endurance. We can have joy that God has a purpose for putting them in our lives. In every difficulty God is testing the genuineness of our faith and as we endure through those tests we will become more mature in Christ likeness.

But we try to get out and avoid anything challenging, don’t we? We have such a strong desire for what is comfortable and I was convicted memorizing these verses that I need to develop a stronger desire to be mature in my faith. If that was at the forefront of my mind I would remember that my current trial is growing me toward that maturity and not loose heart. Every difficult trial we face proves something about God: He is trustworthy, sovereign, just, holy, the list could go on. In contrast, every trial we face produces something in us: It deepens and strengthens our trust in God, or reveals a lack of faith.
I started looking up cross references to this section in James and found that throughout the New Testament we are commanded to rejoice in trials and not to be surprised when we have trials. One passage that was very similar to the James verses was 1 Peter 1:6-7

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

We should never think of challenges and trials as a hassle or act like we are put out to have to deal with them because they are opportunities that our faith needs in order to be stretched and in order to grow. We should not only welcome troubles, but should put our trust fully in God while we are in them. Then we will actually be able to rejoice!