Counting it ALL Joy

James 1:2-4 (NASB) states this:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

I have been working on memorizing this, and practicing it. Author and speaker Elizabeth George wrote a book titled Finding God's Path Through Your Trials. In the first number of chapters, she goes through the verses in James bit by bit. It has been very challenging to read. For instance, when she was simply talking about how we are to count it all joy (deliberate, act of the will, NOT based on feelings of the moment) when we encounter trials, i wanted to throw the book across the room! I thought, "Has this woman ever known trouble, trial, pain?" To my embarrassment, that was my thought. I know that she has endured heartache, trial, trouble and pain. That is why she can write the book! She has lived it, and has learned to be a woman of God with staying power in the midst of challenging circumstances.


Over the past year and a half i have had my fair share of trials. My Dad passed away in January of 2013. Family relationships changed dramatically after that, bringing much heartache. Weekly, i have fairly intense trials to deal with. One person even asked me, "When is it going to stop? Do you even see an end to it all?" I choose to not discuss my circumstances much anymore, unless things grow more intense and i need help. God has shown Himself faithful in every trial, every pain, every time i feel alone.

Enter James 1:2-4.

Little did i know just how much i would need the sound teaching of those verses! The past week brought about a very difficult trial and testing. When it was over, i was able to ask God to help me see how to count it joy. I needed His help to do it, because i just couldn't see it. Then i remembered that He is teaching me. He is training me. He is producing perseverance and endurance in me, so that the next time a trial comes my way, i can stand stronger in Him.  I need staying power. I need His Spirit to continue to show me how to please Him in how i handle the trials that come my way.

One thing i think we get hung up on is the word "joy". It doesn't mean that we are laughing or pretending to be happy when our hearts are breaking. There is pain in joy. There is pain in hope. Yet, we hope. Yet, we have joy... joy that is a deep peace and delight in knowing that God is working ALL things for the good of those who love Him:

Romans 8:28-30: And we know that [a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom Heforeknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

And if the end result, if the reason that i am tested, is simply to bring Him glory, okay. If the end result is that i am more conformed to the image of Christ, okay. He IS worthy of all the praise and all the glory, no matter what the situation is.

The other morning i woke up and this song came on... timing? PERFECT! Nothing is wasted in the hands of our loving Redeemer!

May you be blessed by our great God as you press on in the face of various trials, counting it all joy, and remembering that NOTHING is wasted.