I got a brain!

The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side. Oh joy! Rapture! I got a brain! How can I ever thank you enough? — The Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz (1939)

I’ve always wondered why the “Oh joy! Rapture!” line was in there, but it is one of my favorites from the movie!  The scarecrow wasn’t much of a mathematician, but he did know how to express his joy.  While the scarecrow shows us how to express joy, the book of James shows us one place to find it:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds — James 1:2 (NIV)

I bet I’ve read this verse 100 times, and it always convicts me deeply.  James is not downplaying the pain that trials inflict, but is simply reminding us of the best way to respond to them.  How do I normally react when I face “trials of many kinds”?

• I ignore them, and hope they will go away.
• I get angry at the people who inflict the trials on me.
• I get angry at God for allowing the trials to come my way.
• I give up and give into the pain of the trials.
• I complain about them.
• I run away from them.
• I try to overcome the trials with my own effort.

What do all these reactions have in common?  They cause more pain!

James reminds us later in his letter what we really already know: if we let them, trials can refine us into the kind of people more easily used by God.  Trials can produce humble, strong, willing children of God.  Trials can strip away dependence on ourselves and replace it with dependence on God. 

Trials can make us more like Him.  Trials can make us closer to Him.  Trials are one way we can learn to “run in such a way as to get the prize”.  I pray God will help us all to “consider it pure joy” WHEN trials come our way.  Like the scarecrow, will we think to express our joy and thank God for them?

Be Sociable, Share!

•