Meditation Moment: James 1:2

Meditation Moment: James 1:2

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. James 1:2

Let’s look really hard at this verse before you begin to meditate today. You see those words “let it be”? Well, in the original language of the New Testament—Greek—that would have read, “Count up the ways.” What might be a better way to understand this verse is to put it into today’s words: “Hey, guys and girls, whenever you have troubles, count up the ways you can be joyful about it.”

Finding ways to be joyful isn’t always easy to do. You might have a family member who is really sick. Your mom and dad might be having a hard time with money. Maybe you don’t feel like you have any close friends. These are real troubles, and God cares about them. Still he wants you to “count up the ways” that these troubles can produce joy. For example, maybe one reason you don’t have a lot of friends is so you can grow for a while in your friendship with God. Or maybe God is giving you time to appreciate your friendship with your mom.

Today I want you to meditate on a trouble you’ve been having and write a list of all the things God wants you to “count up” as joy. As always, pray before you begin meditating on this Scripture today. After you’ve gone over it a few times, just sit and wait quietly for God to speak to your heart. If you feel that God has given you a thought, picture, or idea, go ahead and jot it down.

Girl Gab: Talk this verse over with your mom. Pray together that God would give you the strength to live and think differently from the rest of the world.