Count it all Joy
The phrase “count it all joy” comes from James in his letter to the early Christian churches in chapter 1 verse 2-8. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-8).
This verse is one of my favorites because it gives us a picture of happiness that is far from what the world says will make us happy. The disciple James tells us that we can discover happiness or joy, through our suffering. For a Christian, embracing suffering, the "cross" is the cornerstone of faith. When we suffer, we build perseverance. We build faith. The more faith we have, the more fulfilled we feel (not lacking in anything).
Imagine if everything went well every day. You never needed therapy. You never struggled with depression or anxiety. You never had a day where you felt empty or lonely, or insecure. You never yearned for a loving and secure relationship. You always felt pleasurable feelings. The idea of this would be really nice. You might feel like you truly are not lacking in anything but it would never help you encounter God and see your need for God. In the end, you would be lacking in a relationship with God.
For a Christian, joy isn't in everything going well, nor is it in feeling pleasurable feelings, but it's in a person. It's in Christ because the reality is suffering is very much a part of our human experience. Things do not go well often. There are many feelings and experiences that have the power to shake us to our core. The goal is not to eradicate suffering because we know that on this planet, it will always be here and God made it purposeful. The goal is to find ways to bear our suffering in a way that honors our dignity and others, protects our peace, and upholds our God-given destiny.
For a Christian, this means bringing our suffering to Christ and recognizing that in our darkest and lowest moments, God is with us. He does not abandon us. God works through all things, even the most painful, for our sanctification. This is indeed a joyful message. However, it is not an easy message to adopt by any means. Nevertheless, I have learned that when we discover how to keep persevering and keep offering our hurt, wounds, pain, fear, and insecurity to the Lord, God does transform our suffering so that we can grow and become all that we are meant to. It’s the kind of transformation that can make someone who recently lost a spouse, get out of bed in the morning, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God. It’s the kind of transformation that can make someone in the twilight of their depression, open their bible and read a passage of God’s hope and promise, and believe it. It’s the kind of transformation that helped James stay firm in his faith in the midst of persecution and become a martyr.
So what have you been experiencing lately? Are you experiencing any pain? Lack of faith? Struggle? Hardship? Bring it to God. Allow God to help you persevere. Nothing is too big, too much, and/or too shameful for God. God sees you. God knows you. God loves you, and He wants you to experience true JOY!
Count it all joy, my friends.