"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."

It is rather often that I observe people on social media sites posing a question about some issue in our society where a group of people are being mistreated in that person's opinion.  Some of these people are professing men of GOD who supposedly understand that sometimes GOD allows HIS children to experience difficulties so that HE can be glorified in the end.  Keep in mind, we are here to glorify HIM, not the other way around!

You will find it very difficult to find scripture where GOD yields HIS Glory to a human?  As a matter of fact, Isaiah 42:8 says "I AM the LORD; that is MY name; MY glory I give to no other, nor MY praise to carved idols."  So why do we pray for GOD to bless us with health, wealth and prosperity?  Do we somehow think that GOD blesses us based upon the "good things" we have done, or are doing, for HIS Kingdom?  

Then why does HIS WORD constantly remind us that we should "COUNT IT ALL JOY" WHEN (not if) you meet trials?  The trials we meet aren't always meant as punishment, but to ultimately make us "perfect and complete", lacking in nothing.   GOD desires for us to be like HIM.  For us to become like HIM we must continually rid ourselves of selfish desires to please ourselves and draw closer to HIS Plan for our lives.   

No matter what others, including the enemy, may try to tell you, we WILL face trials in this world.   People will do us wrong, we will get the short end of the stick sometimes, not everything will go as we planned for it to.  But my Bible tells me to "COUNT IT ALL JOY" when trials come my way, because that is when JESUS CHRIST can overcome and once again show "this world" that HE is THE OVERCOMER!!!