One thing I have noticed is that lately a lot of people are going through major trials in their lives. Here, at language school, some of us are going through the fire. There has been physical illnesses, family members dying, and many financial needs. We have one missionary friend of ours tell us that his nephew was seriously wounded in Iraq, and he may never walk again. Others have told us of major family problems back home. It is hard for them to keep focused on their studies when they are thinking about what is happening in their lives.
As a family, we have already been through many things, as well. Strep throat, fevers, stress, financial struggles, allergies, broken toe, every time something happens, it takes our focus away from learning Spanish. It is hard to learn a new language when you are hurting physically or emotionally. As a missionary in Latin America, it is crucial to learn Spanish well. We need to learn the language for everyday living, but more importantly, we need to learn the language well in order to communicate the gospel much more effectively. So, we have to try and keep our focus on learning the language well and ministering whenever and wherever possible.
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (NIV) I keep going back to this verse whenever we are going through something we think we cannot face. It is hard to "consider it pure joy" when we have lost a loved one, we have been hurt deeply, we are ill, or when we have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. It's hard to "consider it pure joy" when mosquitos will not stop biting you, even in the middle of the night.
I was reading a commentary on James, and it said this, "Regard it as a thing to rejoice in; a matter which should afford you happiness. You are not to consider it as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity, but as a fit subject of felicitation." (Barnes) James wrote this during a major, but necessary, struggle for the early Christian church. They were being scattered all over the world because of harsh persecution. It was necessary because they were not obeying Jesus and taking His message to the uttermost parts of the world. Trials, persecution, hardships, and struggles all help us to grow. They help us to learn patience and endurance. We need both of these to do what God has called us to do. We need patience and endurance to keep on going whenever the going gets tough. The reason we should "consider it pure joy" is that we know that God is going to work through the trial to help us grow. It is this testing of faith that helps us to learn to persevere in everything.
God has developed patience in our lives. We probably would be really struggling right now if we had not been through some of the trials in our lives. We know, because of what God has brought us through, that we can make it through language school. We know we can learn Spanish because God is helping us to learn it. We know we can go to Paraguay and tell people about Jesus because He is with us all the time.
If you are going through a major trial in your life, "regard it as a thing to rejoice in." Rejoice in the Lord, and He will give you strength. Even when it seems like the world is crashing around you, rejoice, praise the Lord, worship His holy name, and allow the Prince of Peace, the author of Peace, to bring peace into your life.
Blessings and peace to all,
Charley Mattix
As a family, we have already been through many things, as well. Strep throat, fevers, stress, financial struggles, allergies, broken toe, every time something happens, it takes our focus away from learning Spanish. It is hard to learn a new language when you are hurting physically or emotionally. As a missionary in Latin America, it is crucial to learn Spanish well. We need to learn the language for everyday living, but more importantly, we need to learn the language well in order to communicate the gospel much more effectively. So, we have to try and keep our focus on learning the language well and ministering whenever and wherever possible.
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (NIV) I keep going back to this verse whenever we are going through something we think we cannot face. It is hard to "consider it pure joy" when we have lost a loved one, we have been hurt deeply, we are ill, or when we have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. It's hard to "consider it pure joy" when mosquitos will not stop biting you, even in the middle of the night.
I was reading a commentary on James, and it said this, "Regard it as a thing to rejoice in; a matter which should afford you happiness. You are not to consider it as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity, but as a fit subject of felicitation." (Barnes) James wrote this during a major, but necessary, struggle for the early Christian church. They were being scattered all over the world because of harsh persecution. It was necessary because they were not obeying Jesus and taking His message to the uttermost parts of the world. Trials, persecution, hardships, and struggles all help us to grow. They help us to learn patience and endurance. We need both of these to do what God has called us to do. We need patience and endurance to keep on going whenever the going gets tough. The reason we should "consider it pure joy" is that we know that God is going to work through the trial to help us grow. It is this testing of faith that helps us to learn to persevere in everything.
God has developed patience in our lives. We probably would be really struggling right now if we had not been through some of the trials in our lives. We know, because of what God has brought us through, that we can make it through language school. We know we can learn Spanish because God is helping us to learn it. We know we can go to Paraguay and tell people about Jesus because He is with us all the time.
If you are going through a major trial in your life, "regard it as a thing to rejoice in." Rejoice in the Lord, and He will give you strength. Even when it seems like the world is crashing around you, rejoice, praise the Lord, worship His holy name, and allow the Prince of Peace, the author of Peace, to bring peace into your life.
Blessings and peace to all,
Charley Mattix
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