Pure Joy

I attended a Bible study where one member announced she would be leaving the church to start attending another church in the community. She gave several reasons for the decision, but became specific when she said, “There is no joy here.” As she elaborated it became clear that she wanted a more charismatic form of worship that included talking in tongues, which she said she was learning to do. Mentally I questioned how one “learns” to talk in tongues, but I set that thought aside and focused on the woman’s claim that there was no joy in our church. It occurs to me that she has misjudged the situation. The joy she is missing is not found in the church, but rather in found within herself. James said, “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 its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV).