Count It All Joy

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

Count it all joy...What a tall order! In my flesh it's definitely not possible. The trials of various kinds are attacking the flesh, the body, the mind, the spirit, or the emotions. How can a person be joyful undergoing such devastation? That's the whole point! I can't and the sooner that I realize that and live in that reality, the better. I must do this counting in and through the grace of God! God sends these emissaries to grow me into the image of Jesus. Did Jesus suffer? Yes, and so must I! I must follow in His footsteps. What is the result of all this? Hopefully, holiness. But how is holiness grown?

 

Steadfastness is the first step. Enduring with joy until the end! When steadfastness has its full effect,  I will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. From my point of view, I see that I am a far cry from perfection and completion. So I must constantly look ahead to Jesus' return and to the city whose builder and maker is God. When I face the promise constantly then the growth can be counted as joy. If I take my eyes off the prize, then the trials become hard and overwhelming. So to count it all joy means I must follow Paul in forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Father,

Grow me in Your joy and steadfastness. As Your love is steadfast, so grow my joy in trials. Mold me into the image of Your Son.

In His name,

Amen