It's Not That Bad

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." - James 1:2-3

The trials we face are the consequences of the world we live in and the lives lived around us without God. These are not things we did to ourselves, or facing the consequences of our selfish actions. They are the things that happen because we choose Christ, and in that choice, things come our way. We cannot know for sure when they will come. We cannot know precisely what it will look like or how the trial will go. We don’t know for sure when they will end. We can know they are coming, the attitude we should have, and the desired result.

If we expect them to be the worst or react to them as if they are the worst we have ever encountered, they will seem to us as such. We can look at the things that happen to us as never-ending torture. We can look at them as if we have no warning, preparation, or training on how to weather them. We can see them as if we have no hope of an end or a positive outcome. This sounds awful to me. What about you? How does that sound to you? Would you sign up for that trial?

If we understand them for what they are, then it’s not so bad. We know it is a trial. A trial, by definition, is short and can be trained for. We know this trial has benefits for us because it tests our faith and produces patience. The strengthening of our faith and the growth of our patience enable us to reach our goal of eternal life. When you put it like that, it doesn’t seem so bad. I can do temporary, trained-for events so I can grow stronger and gain excellent eternal benefits. See, it is not so bad.

A little boy went and asked his mom for a popsicle on a hot summer day. She gave it to him. He left the kitchen with a hop-and-skip, a popsicle in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Sometime later, his mother went outside to check on him. When he saw her, he came running up to her. He hugged her and went to play. As he turned around, his mother noticed the popsicle had melted in the empty water glass. She said, "Oh, son, your popsicle melted. Do you want another one?" He replied with a smile, "No, mommy. It's okay. It's Kool-Aid now," and went on his way.

The bad is not always that bad. Not every wonderful life lesson comes from ice cream and candy canes. The "bad" things in life often bring us the best lessons and most incredible maturity. Although they may be complex and tiresome, they can still benefit us greatly. So, count it all joy when you face various trials. Your attitude makes all the difference. Let your attitude be shaped by the truth of the matter, not by how it feels. See the good in all things. Sometimes a popsicle is better melted and drunk like Kool-Aid than eaten frozen.

- Steve Johnson

#MaysvilleMessenger