Daily Devotional

It’s everywhere.  Above me, below me beside me, on me! WATER, WATER and more WATER!
It’s raining…a steady flow. Does it have to rain today!? After a busy time of ministry, my husband and I are touring. My clothes are soaked. My face, my hands are dripping with rain.

We are in Northern Ireland walking along an uphill pathway. I’m prepared with a warm parka, waterproof boots and umbrella.  On my right are wild, empty rolling hills. The rain is soaking into the ground. As I step around the puddles on the path, I look to my left to the roaring sea. The waves crash against the rocks sending dancing sprays high into the air.  Each wave seeks to go higher and higher like one great contest.  It is breathtaking! My attitude has changed. I embrace the rain! If it did not rain, Ireland would not look so gloriously green!

Rain is just like trials. When trials rain down on me, I need to remember…just as the rain on the fields of Ireland create gloriously green hills, so trials produce glorious results in my life.
 
James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

This verse challenges us to embrace the trials, because the fruit of trials is worth it. God uses the trials to produce solid results in our lives. Trials can grow us up, teach us, change us inside for the better. Read again: “And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  We all need trials to equip us to live gloriously in this crazy world! EMBRACE THE RAIN!


FOR PARENTS:

• Help your kids memorize James 1:2-4
• Teach your kids what a trial is.   Keep it simple.
• (skinned knee—look at how God made us to heal) Trials help us to learn more about God. Trials helps us to know God is with us. Trials teach us to be strong with God’s power.
• Compare rain to trials.   Without rain, we would not have beautiful flowers, or vegetables to eat.  Many trials can rain down on us at once…but they can produce good results in our lives. Encourage your kids to not be afraid of trials, because God is with them always.  
• God helps us see the good results of trials. Give an example from your own life.