Count It All Joy

You're talking to an officemate about this particular problem in the workplace, then you find from another person that the officemate you were speaking with a while ago is bad-mouthing you to the management. What do you do? Count it all joy.

A friend is asking for your help to do a difficult task. You tried to squeeze that task in your tight schedule. Then you learned that your friend doesn't really need any help; he went with his other friends to watch a movie. What do you do? Count it all joy.

You're doing your best to make ends meet. You wash your own laundry, deprive yourself from any leisure activity, work overtime and during weekends. You are faithful to your responsibilities, and yet all your sacrifices just seems to be not enough. What do you do? Count it all joy.

Count it all joy.

James 1:2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Our joy is not dependent upon the outward circumstances in life; it is a state of our heart. Nothing can rob us of our joy without our permission. That is why choosing to rejoice in the midst of dire stress and trial is not impossible; we are actually encouraged to rejoice in such situations. Why? Because we know that something invaluable is developed when our faith is tested. Patience. Perseverance. Longsuffering. Gentleness. Forbearance.

Why do we need patience? Patience for what? James answered that in James 5:7-8:

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

We need patience for something that we are looking forward to. First and foremost, the coming of the Lord, when all tears will be wiped away and we will be with our God forever. But we also need patience for the things that we want to gain, the things we want to receive, the virtues we want to learn and embrace.

We rejoice because we are looking forward to something. We can envision the desired result of the entire process. We can already smell the cake being baked in the oven. We can visualize the painting even though we are still staring at the blank canvas.

We do not look for the end of the trial. If we do, more often than not we will be disappointed because one trial will disappear only to be replaced by another agonizing situation, and that is where we start to lose our joy. We do not look at the present circumstance; we look forward to something glorious because that will be the source of our joy. No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him!

The Apostle Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" It is a deliberate act of will, a decision, that even in the driest desert we can command ourselves, "Spring up, o well, within my soul." Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and it grows the more that we nurture it.

Every time we are faced with difficulties with trials, we can look to Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame. We rejoice, for in our hearts we know that something good is about to happen.