“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 may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything?” James 1:2-4 NIV

She came toward me, her four kids in tow, to say hello.  I asked her how things were going with her new additions.  She is a single foster parent and just added two young lads to her home.  This after she had recently adopted one of her charges to increase her forever family to three.  “I don’t know how you do it”, I told her, but she just laughed.

Then she leaned in and asked me to pray.  “They found a spot on my lung and I get the PET scan results this week”, she entrusted to me.  She had battled cancer before… there had been not-so-good news before…

The picture of that moment tugged at me.  She was joyful with her energetic loves around her like bubbles in a hot-tub.  Her tone was one of resolve that whatever it is, she was going to trust the Lord.  The encounter was brief as she had to get the kids to different classrooms before church, but it really left me thinking.  She knew the struggle, yet she was willing to do it all over again. She persevered.

Good ole Merriam Webster defines perseverance as, “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition”.   No matter the outcome, it’s all about the process.  This is what James is saying in this scripture.  The testing of your faith, the process, develops perseverance.  There are no other guaranteed outcomes here, just a promise that through the process, growth will occur.  Consider it pure joy …

I think my friend mirrors the definition of perseverance as she has continued to reach out and love and bless despite her prior health related trials. She shows unexpected joy in those questionable moments and her faith is palpable.  I pray that the Lord bless her and keep her and I thank Him for her in my life.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for growth through the trials. Thank You for the joy that results from perseverance. Thank You for those living examples of Your Word. This we pray.

For Today:  What trial are you facing? How’s your joy-level?  What if the outcome is not promised?