Born.Again.Christian.

It is safe to say that this phrase, found in Job 1:21 will be applicable to all of us at some time in our life, whether its the first half of the phrase or the second half. We live in a fallen world. The world is cursed ( Genesis 3 ). The world is full of loss, pain, sorrow, hurt, death, illness, injustice, fraud, deceit, lies, deception: the negatives are endless. Therefore it is inevitable that our lives will not always be rosy. Sometimes this is a consequence of our actions, sometimes this is the consequence of somebody else's actions, and sometimes it is simply a consequence of living on this earth. It is common to see what appeared to be at one time the strongest of Christians become deserters of God when things get tough. Oh, what an unbiblical and destructive way this is to live. When God allowed the devil to pour out evil upon Job, Job did not turn his back on God, even when his friends tried to assure him that he had a just cause to do so. Instead we read in Chapte...

To a non-Christian the concept of taking joy in trials is nonsensical. Trials and hardships are a time for mourning and self-pity when we question the injustice of life. For a Christian, trials are to be the complete opposite. BAC's are human and have human emotion, therefore it is inevitable that trials and hardship will be accompanied by negative feelings such as sadness, loneliness and anger. Yet even when experiencing these emotions we should be taking joy in our trials. James 1:2-3 "My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." We are told in James that through our trials our faith is tested, which produces patience - a fruit of the spirit. Therefore, James is saying that by enduring trials we strengthen one of our Godly characteristics. In another sense, through our trials we are brought closer to God. As beings we are made up of body and soul (and mind, but let's leave that ...