Making Lemonade – letting go of trials to have joy

You know that saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."? It took a long time for me to get to this perspective in life. I would read verses in the Bible like: James 1:2-4, "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing (HCSB).", and I would think to myself, "How in the world can you expect me to have joy, God, when I am going through a tough ordeal? It seemed to me a very illogical thing to expect. I felt I could only endure in life if I was encouraged! This was not encouraging me because I wanted to be done with this trial and be soothed with understanding (it's a female thing).

God will open your eyes to the truth when you start asking Him questions.

He revealed to me that it wasn't the actual trial that I needed to be joyful about, but the result that it would have on my spiritual relationship with him; if I had faith. It is important to approach every experience in life with an eternal perspective. What do I mean by that? Well, it means to live life knowing that we are here to help build the kingdom of God and if this trial you are going through prepares you to be a witness then, praise God – JOY! We have to see beyond the here and now – to let go of the circumstances around us and live with a hope of a future eternity in heaven. Scripture says, in James 1:12, "A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (HCSB)." – JOY!

In the original Greek, the word "passes" in this verse, means to cause to be and the word "test" here, means approved. The faith that allowed you to endure a trial caused you to be approved (2 Timothy 2:15). It shows your faithfulness to your heavenly Father when you believe and love Him. He wants to give you His love back with a crown (1 Peter 5:4). This crown represents royalty as a child of the King and eternal life in heaven with Him – JOY!

Be encouraged, follower of Christ, you can have joy in the midst of your trial. Looking back at all the trials I have encountered in my life, I am grateful for the Lord's protection and guidance. I know that whatever may come and shake my life up in the future, I can trust He will be with me. It helped me to mentally look at the reality of my problem with an eternal perspective knowing I will receive the crown of life by faith. Not only does He love you as His child with a crown in glory, in the meantime, He gives you a righteous maturity to handle this life one lemon of a trial at a time.

Practical tips to make lemonade out of lemons:
♥ Stay in God's word everyday
♥ Memorize scripture
♥ Surround yourself with fellow believers
♥ Sing praises to God
♥ Write down the times that God got you through a trial from the past

"Oh Lord, thank you for eternal life in heaven with you. I let go of my tough circumstances to you by faith. Give me your joy to look heavenward in the midst of my trials."

© Carol Outhous Jones 2014