Count It All Joy

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (James 1:2).

Trials come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from minor disappointment to major trauma.

The natural human response to such trials is built in to our bodies. When threatened by trouble, we are flooded with adrenalin which prepares us to fight or flee. Anger and fear go with the territory. Often trials can bring discouragement or depression in their wake. 

The Apostle James was well aware of all this and yet he urges us to count it all joy. Humanly speaking, this seems impossible. But the grace of God in Christ enables us to rise above our natural human responses.

The key to understanding what James means is the word “count” which, in the original Greek, means to reckon or evaluate. In other words, when we find ourselves facing a trying situation we need to evaluate it from God’s perspective, or in the light of his higher purpose for our lives. What is this higher purpose? Trials, according to Scripture, are the tools God uses to form us into the image of Christ. Thus something very important and Christ-like is happening to us when we experience trials -- and that we can count as joy.

A trial is never pleasant. But properly evaluated, the results of the trial under God’s hand are truly an occasion for rejoicing. God is working for our good even in the midst of painful circumstances. Let us ask God for the grace to count it all joy.