Be Still And Know

READ: James 1:2-3 NLT 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.' This sounds ridiculous. Having problems, trials and difficulties doesn’t sound, on the face of it, like the best way to create joy. So what is James talking about? What he’s doing is taking his readers to the heart of the Christian faith which turns everything upside down.  James is not saying that when we face difficulties it’s a bundle of fun. He is speaking to people who knew what it was to suffer for their faith, and he wants them to know that, when we place our difficulties in God’s hands, he produces something incredibly exciting. Something which lasts. Something which takes us closer to the heart of God, and that always produces joy. Like many of you I’ve had a bad back for many years. At times I’ve had to live with pain night and day and that’s not great. It’s certainly not fun. But I thank God for the way in which he has