Observation/Application: I recently looked at a photograph of my daughter where she was posing like a model.  She definitely looked a lot older than she really is.  I’m not sure I like that.  As my daughter reaches the teen years I find her wanting and desiring to be more mature.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as I also desire to be mature.  I desire to be mature in my walk with Jesus.  Yet maturity is not something that just happens instantly because one just wants it.  And it certainly is more than looking mature.  Maturity is something that takes perseverance.  My translation of perseverance is that it takes work!  So why does James say consider it Joy when we face trials?  It’s because trials produces work and work develops the perseverance to be mature.  Let us strive towards maturity with Joy!

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength to persevere through trials even when I don’t want to.  May your strength, wisdom, and guidance produce maturity.  Amen.

Blessings,

Steve