PAIN TO PROMISE

James confidently said, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (James 1:2-3 kjv) How is it possible to consider joy in the midst of piercing pain, physical or emotional? Often, during a time of pain, we begin to question God. Pain sorely tries our trust in His ability to turn its ugliness into anything worthy of His glory. How then can pain bring the endurance James talks about? How do we find our faith when our vision of God is so blurred by the onslaught of pain? James had the direction of God when he wrote his words. They are not mere expectations, but divine promises. Yes, the pain that we are suffering now can be a cause for joy. It is God’s unfailing promise that your trials will produce endurance, strength, and ultimately for our perfection. Even Jesus, in the pain of the cross, felt abandoned by His Heavenly Father. Jesus, the sacred Son of God, could have called ten thousand angels for His rescue, yet He committed Himself to His Father’s will unto death. His reward was the joy of resurrection. Our promise is that same deliverance. Hold fast and receive joy in the midst of our trial, remembering that joy will turn our pain into the promise of our victory!...

TO TASTE THE SWEET I HAVE TO FACE THE PAINS...