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Still, that is what we are instructed to do.
When James said, count it all joy, he was not referring to the acceptable, pleasant aspects of our existence.
He specifically instructed that we are to count as joy the diverse temptations or trials that come our way.
Now, that is a challenge.
The apostle was not writing to people whose lives were free of hardship, but to believers who had been scattered by persecution and were experiencing the challenges that come to displaced persons in a hostile environment.
To experience God's abundant, overflowing joy, we must choose whether we will heed His advice or not.
James acknowledged the difficult circumstances in his readers' lives.
At the same time, and with no hint of contradiction, he counseled them to rejoice during those very hardships.
He encouraged them to face their trials with an attitude of joy rather than viewing them as a punishment, a curse, or an unforeseen calamity.
His message is applicable for us today.
Our initial reaction to such counsel might be, that's easier said than done.
We know what we are supposed to do, but how can we count times of sadness, frustration, affliction, or stress as joy? Perhaps the secret lies in looking at the big picture.
James went on to explain that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
When we encounter trials, we are to trust God to use those circumstances for our spiritual good, focusing on the end result rather than the pain of the moment.
Being perfect and entire, being spiritually mature and living a consistent life of holiness, is an end result worth making every effort to obtain.
True joy is not dependent on circumstances.
It comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ and the assurance that He is working in and through all events that come our way.
So let's accept the broken pieces along with the whole.
Let's count as James would have us count, with an understanding that trials can help us to a greater spiritual maturity and a deeper relationship with God.
Let's count them all joy.
Still, that is what we are instructed to do.
When James said, count it all joy, he was not referring to the acceptable, pleasant aspects of our existence.
He specifically instructed that we are to count as joy the diverse temptations or trials that come our way.
Now, that is a challenge.
The apostle was not writing to people whose lives were free of hardship, but to believers who had been scattered by persecution and were experiencing the challenges that come to displaced persons in a hostile environment.
To experience God's abundant, overflowing joy, we must choose whether we will heed His advice or not.
James acknowledged the difficult circumstances in his readers' lives.
At the same time, and with no hint of contradiction, he counseled them to rejoice during those very hardships.
He encouraged them to face their trials with an attitude of joy rather than viewing them as a punishment, a curse, or an unforeseen calamity.
His message is applicable for us today.
Our initial reaction to such counsel might be, that's easier said than done.
We know what we are supposed to do, but how can we count times of sadness, frustration, affliction, or stress as joy? Perhaps the secret lies in looking at the big picture.
James went on to explain that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
When we encounter trials, we are to trust God to use those circumstances for our spiritual good, focusing on the end result rather than the pain of the moment.
Being perfect and entire, being spiritually mature and living a consistent life of holiness, is an end result worth making every effort to obtain.
True joy is not dependent on circumstances.
It comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ and the assurance that He is working in and through all events that come our way.
So let's accept the broken pieces along with the whole.
Let's count as James would have us count, with an understanding that trials can help us to a greater spiritual maturity and a deeper relationship with God.
Let's count them all joy.
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