Enduring with Joy

Encouraging Truths for Senior Living: Enduring with Joy
Practical Devotional Thoughts written by Atherton Residents

By: Doug Beyer, Atherton Resident since 2011

James 1:4

“Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Questions for reflection and application:

• How accepting am I of what God is doing to accomplish His plan through the circumstances of my life?
• What do I lack that I need from God?

Thought for today:

Some wit has suggested, “If you learn to laugh at your troubles, you’ll never run out of something to laugh at.” Certainly a sense of humor helps us deal with our problems, but James is saying something much deeper than that. He suggests that we face our problems with an attitude of joy. All of us have met those people who can find something positive, even in the darkest of circumstances. They fill us with encouragement and we find ourselves attracted to their gracious ability to live beyond the circumstances and care about others. Likewise, we find ourselves putting up emotional barriers when we encounter someone who has replaced joy with bitterness; trust with complaints; and peace with questions about God’s goodness. We don’t have to live “above” the real issues that happen in life or try to deny the tough things that come. But with the faith, hope and love of Jesus in your heart you will be able to face daily trials with joyful confidence. You will lack nothing you need in order to live life to the fullest. By God’s grace you will become all that God intended.