Listen

My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy.

James 1:2

Think

Tests are hard. Whether they happen in class, in relationships, or inside your heart, they stretch you. James says something surprising: we can find joy even in those tests. Not because they’re fun, but because God uses them to grow us. Every challenge you face is a chance to learn something new, to become stronger, or to get closer to God.

That doesn’t mean you have to like the hard stuff. But it does mean you can find hope in it. Maybe you’re dealing with drama, pressure to be perfect, or disappointment that something didn’t go your way. Whatever it is, God is right there with you, working through it all. And on the other side, there is joy, the kind that says, “I made it through, and I didn’t do it alone.”

Lauren Mills

Question to Ponder:

What challenge in your life right now might God be using to help you grow stronger?

Pray

God, help me find joy even when things feel like a test or a struggle. Today I’m struggling with…

Give me your joy and strength.

Amen.

Go

May you walk in the deep joy of Jesus today: joy that stays with you in every moment and flows from God’s heart to yours.