Tears and Joy

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2, 3 (New American Standard Bible)

James penned these precious words to believers who were facing extreme persecution in the early days of the church. They knew the taste of trials in their life. Persecution, separation from loved ones, imprisonment, even death. What could possibly be the joy in that? Some would say joy in the trials but James is pointing toward the result of the trials…the development of endurance. So too for us. Each circumstance of our life, each difficulty we face, each trial that comes upon us, as believers, become the seeds for the fruit that will be produced later on. THAT is what we can joy in as the tears fall, as our heart breaks, as the questions persist, and as our minds race.

Many today wake with pillows soaked from tears that have fallen in the night. The Bible has 175 verses that speak of weeping, crying, and tears. One of those verses is John 11:35 which simply says, “Jesus wept.” It was his response to the tears of Mary and other Jews at the death of Lazarus. He wept even though He knew there was to be a resurrection. He wept even though He knew the end of the story. Rather than condemn Mary’s tears, he mingled them with His. He knew that her tears were a matter of her emotions, broken heart, desperate situation, confusion, and unanswered questions.

For those of you who read this devotional today with tear stained faces and broken hearts, I hand to you two support beams of comfort. Beam #1, God has things He is producing through your trial, trouble, or temptation. It is not in vain that you are facing whatever you are facing. It is not a dead end street. It is not for nothing. What God does with it all is yet to be seen, but please know that the production of endurance and strength is part of what will take place in your life because of it.

Beam #2, God mingles His tears with yours. He knows your sadness. He knows your questions. He knows your ache. He sees it for the emotion that it is…not a lack of faith but rather an appropriate response to your plight. He has not forgotten you. He has not abandoned you. He is not condemning you. He is not waiting for you to “get your act together.” Like in the case of Mary, He is right there with you in the midst of what feels like death. He will give beauty for your ashes, joy for your sorrow, and praise for you heaviness of heart. (Isaiah 61:3) In that you can joy. Even when the tears fall with His.

Father, for each person who hurts today, I pray for Your strength to be upon in. Thank you for what will come of their trial and thank you for Your tears that fall with theirs. Amen.

With All I Am - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns&feature=PlayList&p=2FB126D48DF4B086&index=80

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.