Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3
Sunday marked the first day of summer, and everyone is ready for three months of soaking in the sun and enjoying the warmth. But today, let’s reflect back several months ago to a period that was a trial and test for many of us – the ice storm of February 2021. Ice. Snow. No electricity. No coffee. Snowmageddon.
Even though it was harsh, we persevered through the storm and endured, even void of electricity for 3 days. So, these first few days of 100+ temperatures are not so bad because I still remember the -0 days as well.
Now, I know you are supposed to consider it all joy when you have trials, but I wasn’t sure where all that ice and snow was going to fit into the scheme of things until about a month ago when I noticed all the beautiful and plentiful flowers blooming in my yard and all over town. Prolific blooms. Why?
As that blanket of snow fell in February, snuggled up inside of the flakes of ice was atmospheric nitrogen. As the temperatures finally began to rise, 
the snow slowly melted and deposited that nitrogen into the soil. Plants take this chemical element and use it for leaf growth and plant protoplasm. Protoplasm = growth of the plant and flower buds.
Flowers. Blooms. Joy.
As Christians, we know that we are going to encounter tough times. Jesus said so in John 16:33. But
…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
Just like nitrogen helps plant growth, trials help our faith to grow. You know what to do – pray, study the Bible, fellowship with other believers. Trust. Faith. We may not be able to see it at first, but it’s there, seeping into our hearts and minds.
So, consider it all joy. Be a conqueror. For we know that nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And Bloom.
