The first thought upon reading these verses is that
steadfastness had better be worth it. Be joyful in the midst of your pain,
trial
and crisis, because it will give way to steadfastness? Really? If it is true, how do you count it all joy?
In order to understand what James is saying, let’s put three
definitions underneath all of this:
1) JOY
“Joy” is not a feeling of happiness. The Bible refers to joy as
contentment in Christ. (John 16:33; Hebrews 12:2). It is "The Joy of The Lord" - your
strength (Nehemiah 8:10). That's why Paul is able to encourage us to
"Rejoice in the Lord, always! (Philippians 4:4)... Rejoice in the Lord -
not in your circumstances.
2)
FAITH
“Faith” is believing that the promises of God that we cannot yet see or
feel as reality will come true, because
He said so. (Hebrew 11:1,6). James said,
"Knowing that the testing of your faith, produces patience (steadfastness)
- that means our faith is tested through trails, not produced by trials. Trials
reveal what faith we do have or not have. So if trials does not produce faith,
what does? Romans 10:17 tells us that our "faith comes bt hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God." Supernaturally, faith is built in us as we
hear, understand, trust and obey in God's Word.
3)
STEADFASTNESS/PATIENCE
When trials are received with faith. It produces
steadfastness/patience. On the contary if difficulties are received in unbelief and
compliants, then trials can produce bitterness and discouragement. That is why James
exhorted us to count it all joy. Counting it all joy is faith's response to a
time of trial. .
Now, we can rephrase what James is telling us, and ask how it
is possible to live out these words. He is saying, “Seek to be joyful in Christ
above anything else, and you will find that, even in trials, He will prove
Himself and make His promises real to you again.”
Therefore, the idea that “joy is a choice” is possible when
faith and steadfastness come in. If God does the miracle of changing our hearts, and if He gives us the gift of faith, we will have the eyes to see
where all of our pain is going. To know that whatever suffering we endure
really is working for our good (Romans 8:28). To see that Jesus shows Himself
to us more profoundly in our trials, and that this changes everything. To place
our confidence in Him; really believing it doesn’t matter even if everything is
imperfect here, because this world is not our home. Our hope is not in the
things of this world. James goes on to write that the one without faith will be
“like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” Only if our hearts
remain steadfast will we be able to rest joyfully even when our world is caving
in. Only in eyes of faith in our God Who is in control can we “choose joy” in
our suffering and pain.
PRAYER: Lord in "Your Light, we see light." (Psalm
36:9b). When Your Light comes, darkness leave. We may not understand the
darkness of our trials and testing, but we know can stand on the solid ground
of Your unfailing and eternal Word that You are God Almighty and You are in
control. Therefore, with our faith anchoring upon Your Word we choose to count
it all joy in our trials and out of this testing, it will produce steadfastness
to knowing You deeper. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
