"COUNT IT ALL JOY!"

James 1:2-4                          (ESV)

"2 "COUNT IT ALL JOY", my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

There is very little to be happy about when you are going through trials or temptations.  Remembering the guilt and shame of my younger years, wallowing in muck and mire of sinful desires, did not seem very productive at the time.  I had a pastor friend who used to say that "Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay"!  The truth in those words cannot be overstated as proven in many obituaries over the years.  

The author of the book of James is believed to have been the half-brother of JESUS.  One would think that if anyone would have believed that JESUS was the CHRIST it would have been those who grew up with HIM.  But James reportedly was not a "believer" until AFTER the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of JESUS.  James had to go through unbelief just like everyone else.  But his period of unbelief brought about a strong resolve that JESUS was the CHRIST, WHO came into the world as a propitiation for all the sins of mankind.

To "COUNT IT ALL JOY" when you are in the midst of trials and temptations is not the "natural" thing to do.  It is quiet easy to welcome the "woe is me" syndrome as we are faced with difficulties.  But James instructs us to "COUNT IT ALL JOY" because the struggles we experience will develop us into vessels that will ultimately glorify GOD in all we do.  When we "COUNT IT ALL JOY" in the face of various kinds of trials we are acknowledging that GOD is in control and we are only here to glorify HIM!

Being worthy to glorify GOD is not something that any of us should gloat in.  To have been CHOSEN to be a Child of the KING is an honor above all other honors, but none of us have done anything deserving of this honor!  When we are being put through the purifying fire we need to remember to "COUNT IT ALL JOY", as we are demonstrating that GOD's grace is enough!  We are not called be elevated in "this world" that will pass away (1 John 2:16-17).  We are called to "COUNT IT ALL JOY" when we have the opportunity to suffer for HIS sake!!