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Author: kcastillo

Consider Your Trials…Joy?

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James 1:2-4

What hardships are you facing today? Perhaps you’re navigating heartache, divorce, sickness, loss, financial strain, or any other of the many difficulties that we encounter in our lives. While challenges of all sorts are unavoidable, the Word of God is rich in wisdom that can guide us every season. So, what should we do during seasons of hardship? In James chapter 1, the Apostle James answered that question when he wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (verse 2).

Consider trials a joy—pure joy? James didn’t supply a mere coping strategy to deploy in adverse circumstances; he expressed that we can, and should, find joy in them. You may be wondering how that could even be possible, and thankfully, James also offered an illuminating explanation: “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (verse 3). He continued, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (verse 4).

Take a moment to reflect on the rigorous training programs endured by the most elite athletes. High-level athletes subject themselves to—and even learn to enjoy—levels of physical stress that most people wouldn’t dream of taking on. But why? The answer is simple: they know what their training produces—strength, stamina, and, most importantly, a chance at victory.

What if we, like world-class athletes in training, learned to embrace difficulties because we valued what they produced in our lives? Friends, the Lord works masterfully through our trials and uses them to develop perseverance in us. Perseverance is invaluable; it enables us to mature and, ultimately, reach a state of spiritual completion in which we lack nothing. While this wonderful spiritual reality doesn’t eliminate the presence of pain in our lives, it does allow us to discover purpose within it—and that is something to be considered a joy!

Read, Reflect, Write:

Have you ever had a difficult experience (such as training for an athletic event) that produced something valuable in your life? If so, what was it?

Read James 1:2-4. What hardships are you currently facing? How might the Lord use that situation to strengthen you?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. According to this passage, what are your current troubles achieving for you?

What are some simple habits that might help you to fix your eyes on the unseen? How
would these habits better equip you to endure trials?

Screens Off, Eyes Up!

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Psalm 121

How much time do you spend looking at a screen each day? Living in the digital era—in which we are often held captive by our smartphones, laptops, and the like—it can be easy to forget to pause, take a deep breath, and simply look up!

In Psalm 121, the psalmist began a moving song of worship with the declaration, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains” (verse 1). The remainder of the psalm proclaims the Lord’s role as a faithful helper and watchful protector:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121)

While the words of this passage certainly offer a comforting assurance about the Lord’s steadfast presence, it turns out there are also some fascinating benefits to the practice of lifting our eyes, as modeled by the psalmist. Studies in the ever-growing field of neuroscience suggest that the position of our eyes and the direction of our gaze affect brain activity. And guess what? It appears that looking upward stimulates certain neurobiological processes that support well-being, including activating regions of the brain associated with mood regulation.

The Word of God is so much more than a beautifully written story. Cover-to-cover, it offers supernatural wisdom that precedes science and supports wellness from the inside out! Schedule some time this week to take a break from screens and look up. In that time, recite scripture, pray, sing, or simply declare who you know God to be. In exercising a spiritual discipline while fixing your gaze upwards, you’ll help to rewire and better regulate your brain!

Read, Reflect, Write:

What are your current daily screen time habits? How do you feel when you’ve been looking at a screen for a long period of time?

Reflect on a recent moment in which you felt upset or overwhelmed. What might have been different if you had taken some time to pause and “look up”—both physically and spiritually?

Read Psalm 121. In what ways have you experienced the Lord as a source of help in your life? Take a few minutes to turn your eyes upwards and worshipfully declare how He has helped you.

Soaring in the Storm

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Isaiah 40:29-31

Do you find yourself facing one of life’s storms today? While hardships are inevitable, Scripture provides a wonderful encouragement: in the Lord, there is strength to overcome any storm. Isaiah 40:29-31 reads:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

These poetic words, prophetically penned by Isaiah, point to a valuable lesson gleaned from nature, specifically, from the eagle. When storms arise, most birds seek shelter. But eagles do something that seems counterintuitive: they fly directly into the storm. With majestic and unwavering composure, eagles capitalize on heavy winds—spreading their wide-spanning wings to allow gusty forces to lift them upwards. In the skies just above the storm, they find safety and calm.

As you read Isaiah’s words above, perhaps you identified with some of what he described—trials and turbulence have left you tired and weary, or maybe they’ve even caused you to stumble and fall. If that is so, take a moment to declare that you are going to hope in the Lord. He will sustain and strengthen you, and what’s more, you’ll find that life’s biggest storms are exactly what He’ll use to lift you up—growing your faith, endurance, maturity, and more.

Read, Reflect, Write:

What storm are you facing? How has that storm made you feel?

Reread Isaiah 40:29-31. What are some of the things that God offers to those who are weary and weak as they put their hope in Him?

Read James 1:2-4. What are some qualities that trials might produce in your life?

Do you think it’s important to embrace the storms of life? Why or why not?