James 1:2-3 NIV
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
The definition of perseverance is "steadfastness, constancy, endurance -
in the New Testament the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings."
The King James Bible says "Count it all joy" when you are facing trials of faith. I have anger issues from time to time. Joy doesn't usually fit in those times. I do not like being deceived or manipulated. I do not like it when people make plans for me without consulting me. I do not like when people do not at least listen to my ideas and instead call me devisive. And I especially do not like it when these people are calling themselves followers of Christ.
The Bible says we should be slow to anger or in this case consider it joy. Why? It produces endurance. I have to admit as soon as I get over myself and let the anger subside and replace it with joy - I begin to think clearer.
We need endurance because in life trials do not subside. If we are not being steadfast, we grow weaker in our ability to face those trials. Joy helps us to clear our heads and think. Stinking thinking produces stinky results. Perseverance helps us to have a clearer perspective. As we persevere, we learn to handle situations more maturely and with greater tact.
So yes there are areas I need to grow stronger, and I am fine with it. It means I am learning to persevere by knowing my weaknesses. What are your weaknesses? Where are you being tried? How well have you endured? You may just find a chance to mature a little and count it as joy.
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