"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
James 1:2-3
The Joseph Smith translation of this scripture clarifies that it is afflictions that help us rather than temptations. Since there is crossover in definitions between those two things, I think the point here is probably that temptations/afflictions are things that help us when we face them and learn from them, not when we just give in to them, or give up because of them. For instance, it isn't the experience of wanting something we shouldn't have that helps us learn patience, but the experience of wanting something that we can't have *and* choosing something that will be better for us long term than that short-term desire.
The idea of counting adversities as joy is an interesting one, but I think it makes sense when we look at all we learn from the adversity in our lives. It is how we deal with adversities that makes us who we are in a lot of ways. And if our faith was never tested, it would never grow, but might even fade. The more we follow God by faith rather than by sight, the more we refine those spiritual senses that can help guide us, and help us recognize God's work in our lives.
Today, let's try to see the joy in the opposition that we run into, in whatever form it takes. Let's see how it is building and forging us, and by the grace of God, turning us not into mindless automatons, but into our best selves. Let's learn the patience that we need, and every other lesson that he offers as we grow better, stronger, and kinder in his service, seeing that everything that we experience counts towards our eternal joy.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
James 1:2-3
The Joseph Smith translation of this scripture clarifies that it is afflictions that help us rather than temptations. Since there is crossover in definitions between those two things, I think the point here is probably that temptations/afflictions are things that help us when we face them and learn from them, not when we just give in to them, or give up because of them. For instance, it isn't the experience of wanting something we shouldn't have that helps us learn patience, but the experience of wanting something that we can't have *and* choosing something that will be better for us long term than that short-term desire.
The idea of counting adversities as joy is an interesting one, but I think it makes sense when we look at all we learn from the adversity in our lives. It is how we deal with adversities that makes us who we are in a lot of ways. And if our faith was never tested, it would never grow, but might even fade. The more we follow God by faith rather than by sight, the more we refine those spiritual senses that can help guide us, and help us recognize God's work in our lives.
Today, let's try to see the joy in the opposition that we run into, in whatever form it takes. Let's see how it is building and forging us, and by the grace of God, turning us not into mindless automatons, but into our best selves. Let's learn the patience that we need, and every other lesson that he offers as we grow better, stronger, and kinder in his service, seeing that everything that we experience counts towards our eternal joy.
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