“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:2-3
Joy in the Process
Babe Ruth, one of the best hitters of all time, had a lifetime batting average of .342. This means the Great Bambino failed almost seven out of 10 times at the plate. Being one of the best baseball players of all time came with a large share of failure and adversity.
Although unique to each individual, we all know that life throws us a curveball every now and again. Some of these trials fade quickly, while others seem to linger on forever. As Christians, we must ask ourselves what God has to say about this adversity.
We must first understand that trials are inevitable. No one said it would be easy! In 1 Peter 4:12 we read, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” James then tells us, “Count it all joy” (James 1:20.
You may say to yourself, “How can I count this trial as joy?” “You must not know my situation, it’s not joyful at all!”
Strikeouts don’t bring joy, but knowing that the strikeout is temporary brings hope. That hope leads to an unwavering faith that your next at-bat or opportunity is on the horizon. Steadfastness begins when you enter that batter’s box again with an assurance that the game is much larger than us. The joy we feel may not be from the trial, but rather in the process of leaning on God’s promises and developing a deeper union with Him along the way.
Be encouraged by baseball’s example of success despite multiple failures and trials. Whatever you may be going through today, don’t forget that you have a savior in Jesus Christ who will never leave you!
— Ryan Noelte
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