How do I endure trials?
Yesterday
We read James 1:2-4, with a questioning mindset.
Do you remember seeing:
God’s purpose for trials?
What we are to know and do?
Today
We want to see ‘how’ we endure trials.
We will zoom in on the 1st thing we are to ‘do’.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Before We Begin, Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, as we come to Your Word today, quiet our hearts and open our eyes to see and understand what You are saying and why. Help us to understand how we are to think. Please help us live according to Your Word. Thank you Lord, (Psa 119:169).
LOOK at What God Says!
Do you ever take a road trip without looking at the map?
Let’s Look at Our Map!
Open GODcha’s LOOK Section
In case you don’t have GODcha – the Road Signs lead us to:
Read, asking the 5W’s and H.
Meditate on the Key Word ‘faith’.
Reflect on ‘trials’.
Define ‘consider’, ‘trials’, ‘knowing’, ‘testing’, ‘faith’, and ‘endurance’.
Consider Cross References for ‘trials’, ‘testing’, ‘endurance’ and ‘perfect result’.
Where does GODcha suggest we begin?
Let’s Begin LOOKING by READING!
Read James 1:2-4 again, on your own, asking the 5W’s and H.
Yes, refresh your memory.
There is no substitute for repeated readings of the text.
And even better – read it aloud.
You will find yourself automatically memorizing it.
Don’t panic!
This is a skill that must be developed, and one day it will become like second nature to you.
If you have trouble, no problem, yesterday’s post will help.
What is the first thing James tells his readers to do when they encounter various trials?
Unlock the Meaning 
Let’s jump in and unlock ‘consider it all joy‘ which is 
Key to the text.
Understand the WORDS God Uses!
GODcha suggests we check out the Greek meaning of ‘consider‘.
Dictionary Tutorial>TIP: Tap on ‘consider‘ in the Bible in GODcha and the dictionary will open.
TIP: Defining a word and checking the Grammar helps open up our understanding.
What does ‘consider’ mean?
Consider, hēgéomai; to lead, have the rule over, suppose, think.
- To lead or go before, go first, lead the way.
- To lead out before the mind, to view.
- To look ahead.
Understand: The picture is that of one leading his or her mind through a reasoning process to arrive at a conclusion.
DONT STOP there!
Take what you have LEARNED back to the text to see what it means in its context.
NOTE: the text always determines the meaning.
“Consider [really think carefully, reason about what is happening, it’s result, and where it is leading; look ahead to the good that will come] it all joy. . .“
Now Let’s Camp Here For a Minute.
Let’s Check Out the Grammar
GODcha Helps Us
‘Consider’ is a verb,
Expressing an action, often very significant to what the author is saying.
‘Consider’ is Aorist Imperative Middle.
For our purposes you need to understand that an ‘Imperative’ is a command.
BTW – This is the 1st of over 50 commands that James gives his readers.
He doesn’t suggest – he commands!
You’re probably saying,
“How can this be?
How can I possibly consider it all joy when in the midst of trials?
You don’t know what I am going through!“
No, dear ones, I don’t. But God, your Almighty Creator, your Loving Father does! And God, who is Sovereign, has a divine plan in what you are going through and knows it is possible to obey this command, and you and I can consider it all joy!
Hang in there –
Keep meeting with God because He will show us ‘how’ we can obey this command.
Perhaps go back and discover the meaning of ‘joy‘ for deeper understanding.
It’s just a tap away!
Remember the Spirit produces ‘joy‘ in us, (Gal 5:22).
That’s It For Today!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” (Col 3:16).
Reflect and Meditate on what you have LEARNED!
Talk to God about how you are to live in the light of this Truth that is a command.
Let’s Close in Prayer
Perhaps. . .
GRACIOUS FATHER, thank you so much for continuing to meet us right where we are at, and opening up Your Word to us. Thank you for the clarity that comes when we take the time to understand the meaning of the words You use in order to teach us. Thank you that in the midst of our trials we can consider, we can think about what is happening, it’s result, and where it is leading. Oh Father, in the midst of our trials, may each one of us begin this day to obey this command, no matter what we think or feel. Help us look forward, look ahead to the good that will come. May we understand that You are doing a mighty work in us. We are so grateful for what You have shown us thus far. Oh Father, we love that we can say with the psalmist “You Yourself have taught us,” (Psa 119:102). Thank you, Thank you! We ask all this in Jesus name. Amen!
I can’t wait to meet with you to let the Lord continue to teach us, (Psa 32:8).
Next: we will LEARN ‘how’ to ‘consider it all joy’!
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Love this Janette Hamm!!! For some reason, I like knowing that it is a command that I am to consider it all joy whenever I face trials. I have never considered this before, but when it is looked upon as an option, I am not truly trusting the Lord with ALL things…. Profound and need to spend some time with HIM on this one!!! Thank you!!!!