Joy in the Midst of Pain

Reason #1 – The grounds for our joy is our _______________.
Reason #2 – God has a _______________ for our temporary pain.
Purpose #1 – Assuring us of our _______________ of our salvation/inheritance (proving the genuineness of our faith) Purpose #2 – Increasing our _______________ of our salvation. (purifying the quality of our faith) Digging Deeper: What is the danger of tying our joy to our circumstances? Why is the joy of the Christian unshakable – even in the midst of pain? How does God use trials in our lives? Do you tend to grow closer to God in times of difficulty? Why? What (or better, who) is our ultimate inheritance? (see Rom 8:17, Matt 5:8)
Other passages to consider: Matt 5:10-12; John 16:33; 20:29; Rom 8:16-18; Phil 3:10-11; Jam 1:2-4; 1 Pet 4:12-13)