Count it All Joy
James 1:2-8 (NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Let’s be honest—no one is happy to be in the midst of trials. But happiness and joy are two separate things. Happiness is circumstantial—it’s a bright, sunshiny day with temperatures in the 70’s and I am playing my best round of golf ever and that makes me happy. But joy is that deep, abiding feeling that is birthed when the Holy Spirit inhabits our being. And we can experience joy even in our trials.
But how can we claim joy when we are so burdened down with troubles, illness, and loss that we can scarcely breathe? Joy is ours, brothers and sisters, not because of anything we have accomplished, but because of what Jesus finished on Calvary. When I say “the joy of the lord is my strength” I am not just quoting scripture from Nehemiah, I am declaring that today, at this very moment, I have joy and because Jesus is the source of my joy I do not have to worry about lack.
Our bodies wear down, relationships may come and go, but the joy we have in Jesus is like a well that never runs dry. The best feeling in the world is when I begin to talk about Jesus and this wellspring of joy comes bubbling up to the surface.
May we celebrate with undeniable joy the love God has lavished on us as we go through each day, praising Him for who He is.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 