Joy In Anything?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 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 anything."  James 1:2 (NIV)

Two weeks ago Pastor Steve's sermon,"Between Plan A...and Unplanned Z" (click here to listen) brought us to think about all that was going on when Paul and Silas visited Philippi.(Acts 16)  All of their plans A,B,and C were disrupted by unplanned X,Y,Z, which became God's plans.  The sharing at the end of worship was remarkable - example after example was given of God redeeming our failed plans (with the pain and frustration those failed plans caused) to bring good and glory to Himself.

I have been there many times: times where hopes and dreams did not play out as I planned.  Yet, I experienced God's faithfulness as a love gift from the Father to bring hope.  Jeremiah 29:11 came to life over and over again as I let go of my plans and embraced what God was doing.  I could see God's plan for me was not to harm me but to bring me "hope and a future."

But now back to where I started.  James 1:2 says to consider it pure joy whenever I face trials - when every failed plan A,B or C occurs.  That's hard.  I can say I love God, and I do.  I can say I trust God, and I do.  But to consider it pure joy, PURE JOY, to walk through the confusion and hardship as a result of the trials and failed plans?  James goes on to give the outcomes .  Trials lead to faith tested.  Faith tested leads to perseverance.  Perseverance leads to my becoming mature and complete, not lacking anything. In other words, it leads me to become more and more like Jesus.  When put that way, I can consider it pure joy when I come face to face with any trial.

Do your work in me, Lord; in us all.

“Mary!”

Pastor of Worship and Staff, David Dillon

As a seasoned substitute teacher my wife Heather has learned, within five minutes of entering a new classroom, which students' names she needs to know. See, there is power in knowing a person’s name, which is easily observed when a disruptive student hears their name and now knows their cover has been blown and anonymity is no more!

Of course there is a positive side to this too. Knowing a person’s name is honoring to them and often the first step toward a relationship. Hearing your name lovingly spoken by a spouse or parent allows you to rest in the familiar and comfortable place of I belong and I am valued.

In John 20 a broken-hearted Mary unexpectedly hears her name called out by the risen Jesus. Confusion, joy, wonder, and amazement must have simultaneously bombarded her thoughts. Hadn’t she seen him dead on the cross? But now, just as real and palpable as the stone that no longer covers his tomb, she hears, “Mary!” Oswald Chambers notes that she immediately recognized a personal history with the one who spoke. Everything he had done and said to her suddenly became even more true.

Can you recall times when your heart’s ear has heard Jesus call your name? What was that like? What about now - do you hear Him lovingly speak it?

Sometimes, like Mary, I think he speaks our name after a time of silence to surprise us and remind us that we do have a history with Him. During those silent times we can have a well-founded hope of that coming surprise. Other times we may wonder if there is just too much earwax in the way of really hearing him and we doubt his unique love for us. Then there are those times when we experience an ongoing intimate connection with him. In God’s economy, all of these seasons can be used by him to deepen our love for Him.

No matter where you find yourself on the continuum, Scripture assures us of his love for each of us. As the perfect Father, there is nothing that he desires more than to be intimately involved in each of his children’s lives. Isaiah 49:15 puts it like this: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

Because he knows you by name.