Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials.
James 1:2
Sounds crazy doesn’t it? You could be going through the worst time of your life and the scriptures expect you to be full of joy during that time. Most of us consider it an accomplishment just getting by or being complacent during times of struggle. We have the attitude of “As long as I can get to the end of this”. While that attitude does have merit, it misses the real blessing of how we ought to handle ourselves during times of struggle and confusion. We can get so caught up in trying to solve a problem or become impatient for answered prayer that we miss what we have to gain in those moments where life seemingly takes control from us. Like a fish out of water we try desperately to get back to normal life where we are back in familiar surroundings where we are “in control”. Whether that environment means means having money in your pocket, good health or a loving and supporting family, the danger that comes with desperately trying to get those things back when they are taken from us is missing the greater blessing of what God may have in store when the things that are most precious to us are taken away.
Count it all joy….
Yes, not just complacency during your trials but a big smile on your face, eyes wide open and your head up! The world leads us to believe when things go wrong we should worry and do everything we can to rectify quickly but if “God be for us” (Rom. 8:31) then there is nothing to worry about to begin with. This is obviously easier said than done but the rewards one can again with this kind of attitude come only from God and are priceless.
Be assured that the testing of your faith produces endurance
James 1:3
Having the attitude of counting it all joy is like being at the gym and in a state of joy while your body is being crushed by the exercise and weights you put on it. That person can smile in the midst of pain becuase they know that through their “trial” they are going to come out stronger than they were before (1 Peter 1:7). They understand the key to reaching that goal is their attitude towards the workout. A positive attitude will ensure that person doesn’t skip reps but will push extra hard because se they know what the reward at the end of the day will be. If you ask some the greatest NBA players like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, they will tell you that they craved crunch time where the game was on the line with seconds left, their team down by one and the ball in their hands with all eyes on them. They craved this time because it forced them out of their comfort zone and into a place where their limits could be pushed further and they could become better for it in the long run regardless of the outcome. The key to get from these examples is that the joy came from within, not from the environment. It is resident inside the individual and is not lessened by negative experiences but in these cases draws strength from them.
If we begin to look at our problems as weights God has placed to be lifted to make us stronger instead of walls to imprison us, it becomes much easier to let the joy of the Lord take permanent residence inside us. This joy that today’s scripture speaks of is not meant to exist in a vacuum. This joyful attitude essentially is key to not only getting stronger in our faith but is the key to getting out of our problems.Counting it all joy in the middle of trouble prevents confusion and doubt from taking any place in your mind in times where life gets rough. When we let joy take residence in us, it is then that our faith can be successfully tested and increased while in trouble (James 1:3–4). This is vitally important because when the pressures of life come we are encouraged to ask God for help (James 1:5) but help will be useless if worry and doubt fill the mind. For nobody who doubts should expect to receive anything from God (James 1:6–7). It is that joy that is developed during trial that prevents nagging doubts from taking root in us. If we can trust God in the hardest times then we can truly have His joy inside of us all the time and be useful to God in ministering that joy to others naturally through past experience while they are in the confusing midst of troublesome times.
With that, when times of trouble come and the urge to worry, complain and make knee-jerk decisions based on those reactions comes, stop and search for that joy that comes from God. Stop and ask God for direction and allow what he is trying to teach you to take its course. You’ll be better for it in the long run.
I will end today’s devotion with a short video I came across a few weeks back that illustrates the points raised above. I think it will to speak to the importance of the condition of our hearts in relation to today’s devotional. Here’s a quote from it:
“You do not pursue happiness, because if you pursue happiness…..Happiness I believe is based upon happenings and things. But joy is a condition of one’s heart. It’s deeper and its more lasting…..happiness is fleeting and its not lasting….”
Today’s devotional is really to myself as much as anyone else as I am currently going through quite a trial at the moment and finding and keeping that joy has not been easy so for anyone who reads I ask that you call my name out in prayer not to just make out of trial but to experience and hold on to the everlasting joy that God provides in the process.
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