Consider it All Joy
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials… (James 1:2)
How?????
Decide
“Consider it all joy” is a command to us, believers in Christ. It isn’t a suggestion. It is God’s command.
The first step in obeying God’s command (any command) is to decide to do so.
Deciding is a big deal. Following His command can feel like a huge impossibility.
But without deciding to obey, we’ll get nowhere.
Believe
To consider our trials joy, we need to believe God. We believe in God, but we must believe what He says.
God tells us, in His word, the Bible, that He will work all things for good for us.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
“All things” includes our trials.
Jesus, James, Peter, and Paul all tell us of good things that result from our trials. We must believe God. (Matthew 5:12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Romans 5:3-5.)
We must believe what He says. We must believe He is our all-powerful, loving God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). We must trust Him.
Look Beyond
This command tells us why we can consider our trial a joy: there are good things coming.
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. (James 1:3–4)
Our trial, whatever it is, produces endurance in us, perfecting us, and completing us.
If we focus on the trial, if we focus on our misery, we won’t be joyful. If we focus on how our loving, all-powerful God is perfecting and completing us, we see reason to be joyful.
Look at the flower, not the thorns.
Test of Faith
Do we believe God is in control of this trial and that He loves us? Do we have faith?
Our faith is being tested by fire in this trial. Decide to believe our loving Savior in this trial, which will result in praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)
~~~
As usual, this post is for me. I, too often, grimly endure, trying to do the right thing, but not with joy. I have decided to be joyful in my trials. Pray for me!
