Consider it pure joy

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We are to consider it pure joy when we face any kind of suffering or temptation, difficulty or trial. This is not natural for most of us.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

We need to be willing to accept whatever befalls us.

However, in our day, many Christians believe only good things can happen to them. But that is not a biblical belief.

Nor is it consistent with the experiences of the overwhelming majority of believers worldwide.

Nor is it consistent with the experiences of the overwhelming majority of believers throughout history.

The Lord Jesus acknowledged that in this world, we will have trouble. Our human existence is marbled with troubles and suffering.

That reality is reflected in Buddhism, where the First Noble Truth is that all of life is suffering.

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

Psalm 94:12. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, LORD, and teach out of your Torah;

Proverbs 17:3. The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.

 

2 Maccabees 7:1. It came to pass that seven brothers and their mother were at the king’s command taken and shamefully handled with scourges and cords, to compel them to taste of the abominable swine’s flesh.

Sirach 2:1. My son, if you come to serve the Lord, Prepare your soul for temptation.

Sirach 2:4. Accept whatever is brought upon you, And be patient when you suffer humiliation.

Sirach 2:5. For gold is tried in the fire, And acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

Sirach 40:1. Great travail is created for every man, And a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, From the day of their coming forth from their mother’s womb, Until the day for their burial in the mother of all things.

 

John 16:33. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.

Romans 5:3. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;

Romans 5:4. and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope:

James 1:2. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

James 1:3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

1 Thessalonians 3:4. For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

1 Peter 1:7. that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

 

THE QUR’AN

 

Qur’an 2:155. And We will test you with some fear and hunger, and a shortage in money and lives and fruits. And give good news to those who are patient.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.