“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” — James 1:2-3 (NLT)
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Nick Chubb is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He’s a four-time Pro Bowl running back, and in the weight room he’s known for legendary strength. It’s difficult to tackle him, and yet he’s got sprinter-style speed to go with his power and agility.
However, he broke a bone in his left foot in December in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs and he was done for the season; in 2023, injuries limited him to only two games. In college, he missed a lot of playing time after more than one major knee surgery and a lot of time in rehabilitation. But he keeps coming back after setbacks and always seems to keep a great attitude.
Many people can relate to setbacks and fighting to keep positive attitudes, such as Gerald Wolfe, whose story is one of success and setbacks. His mother taught him to enjoy Gospel music at a young age, and he learned to sing and play the piano. In high school, he met his wife, Donna, in chorus where they both sang. When Gerald was 17, he became the pianist for the Dumplin Valley Boys and then got his big break when the world-renowned Cathedrals Quartet hired him as pianist and allowed him to sing occasionally using his strong baritone voice. After a few years, he started a Gospel trio called Greater Vision, and he continues in the group today.
Gerald has won lots of awards, but he’s had major setbacks along the way. About 10 years ago, he developed a health problem with the muscles in his neck near his vocal cords, making singing almost impossible. After struggling with it for a few years, Wolfe gave up most singing and is the pianist for the group.
When he sat down and talked about what was lost, he said, “We don’t always get to choose our circumstances but we do choose our response. We can be sour, bitter and angry, or choose to be joyful.”
In a similar way, the early disciples learned to rejoice in the midst of suffering. After the authorities beat the disciples and commanded them not to speak any more about Jesus, they shocked everybody by rejoicing.
John and Peter showed spiritual strength and kept a twinkle in their eye no matter what happened. “They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: ‘Jesus is the Messiah'” (Acts 5:40b-42, NLT).
When we live mindful of God’s constant presence, we can find joy in all situations. James tells us to continue rejoicing in the Lord when we face difficulties because God is building character in us, and we can also help others get through similar circumstances. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (James 1:2-3, NLT).
God reminds us to be ready to learn, grow and become stronger when we go through changes and challenges. If we develop a joyful mindset even when we endure pain and heartache, we will grab the attention of others. We all need a God who helps us adapt and thrive even when we don’t understand what’s happening.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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