Nougat 17

It may seem strange to reflect on today’s Holy Nougat at this juncture, but the truth is – trouble never set like rain.

“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. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Trouble is inevitable. Ever since sin was a thing I’m Eden, is humans have met with Trouble in one way or another. Whether we refer to it as trials, temptation or testing (as reflected in the Greek versions), one can expect to face them at some point. Given this inevitability, we might feel inclined to find the Cliffs Notes on overcoming or surmounting troubles, and here is our nougat – the Believers’ Guide to overcoming: Be Happy.

Yes, there’s more to the nougat, but in a sense, if we can remain joyful then the rest is way easier to accomplish. I am reminded of the Sunday School chorus, With Christ in the Vessel we can smile at the Storm. And that’s true! It’s not just Sunday School hype. Although there’s been times I managed to forget that truism, I have proven it so many times. It is easy to give in to despondency but I guarantee that as we yield to Christ, allowing Joy to keep us, things begin to shift.

Isn’t that why we pray, Your will be done on earth as in Heaven? Because we acknowledge that trials will turn up – Job-style. But God! And as long as God is still God, we have reason to praise. We praise in anticipation of a miracle! We praise, for even if it feels otherwise, it means that God’s power is at work in us and gives us the grace to overcome. We praise God, recognizing that each time we praise, that’s a potential spiritual growth spurt. We praise, recognizing that the hotter the battle, the sweeter the victory.

Lord shift our focus Heavenward once again, and increase the volume of our praise. Remind us that we’re in high stakes challenge for our lives, so we gotta praise our way for victory in Jesus.

Yaaas

We got the joy, Joy, JOY, JOY!, down in our hearts to stay. We’re aiming for Godly endurance and it is possible, in Christ Jesus. So let’s turn up the volume on our Joy.

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May all we seek be found in Christ