James 1:2 says: “Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds.” I am forever forgetting to Praise God or to Count it all joy when trials come. I will thank God for the trial afterwards when the issues have been addressed and one has grown from the trial. But, the scripture tells us to count it all joy and to praise God in the midst of the storm–not afterwards.

Yesterday was one of those days where there were several little events to attend. A couple of them were men from our Celebrate Recovery needing to talk–one by a personal visit and the other by phone. In every case the events were not only enjoyable, but productive. This morning I thanked God for the day and for the way He is working in the lives of ones who have been struggling. It was then that I was reminded that I neglected to praise God while they and I were in the midst of storms this past week. It is a definite lesson I want to put in the forefront of my mind. I have done this many times, but I’m really not good at it. Somehow I know God is wanting me to grow into this behavior and I want to do so.

A new creation is never done growing and this is my next step.