Count It All Joy

James one verse two speaks words that are unnatural to the human mind. It encourages believers to count it all joy when they fall into diverse temptations.

To understand why James wrote these words, one must look at the condition of the believers to whom he wrote. The epistle of James was addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. These were Jewish believers dispersed throughout the Roman Empire due to persecution. They had been driven from their homes, their families, their synagogues. They wandered as strangers in strange lands.

Many of them had lost everything. Their properties were confiscated. Their businesses were destroyed. Their relatives disowned them. They faced poverty, hunger, and homelessness. They were mocked by the Gentiles among whom they dwelt. They were despised by their own countrymen who had not believed. Daily they faced pressure to renounce their faith and return to the old ways.

Some were dragged before magistrates. Some were beaten in synagogues. Some watched their loved ones put to death. The diverse temptations were overwhelming.

Yet James did not write to pity them. He did not offer sympathy. He wrote with divine authority: Count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. Not some joy. All joy.

These were saints who had lost all for Christ. Yet James told them to rejoice. As followers of the same Lord who endured the cross and despised the shame. Because they were partakers of the same glory that would be revealed in due time.

The apostles themselves had set the example. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. They sang praises at midnight in Philippian stocks. They counted not their lives dear unto themselves. They knew that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory that should be revealed.

So James wrote with authority. He had seen Stephen’s face shine like an angel as they stoned him. He had watched Peter walk out of prison past sleeping guards. He had heard Paul testify of visions and revelations of the Lord.

The tribulation is never pleasant. But the outcome is certain. The reward is sure. The Lord is near. He who promised is faithful.

Scripture describes Job as perfect and upright, one who feared God and eschewed evil. Yet diverse temptation came through the loss of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys. Temptations came through the death of seven sons and three daughters. Temptations came in form of boils that covered his body from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

Temptations also came through a wife who said, “Curse God and die.” Three friends sat in silence seven days and then accused him of secret sin.

Job lost his children in one day. His servants fell by the edge of the sword. His livestock were stolen by Sabeans and consumed by fire from heaven. His body was covered with loathsome sores. The temptation to curse God and die fell upon him.

Yet he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

He said: “I know my redeemer liveth.” He refused to charge God. He looked beyond the present darkness to the light that was coming. In all, Job sinned not with his lips.

David was anointed with oil by Samuel in the midst of his brethren. Yet he spent years running from Saul through the mountains. He dwelt in the cave of Adullam. He lived in the strongholds of En-gedi. He pretended to have madness before Abimelech and let spittle run down upon his beard. The Ziphites betrayed him. The Keilites would have delivered him. Saul pursued him day after day.

Yet David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. He wrote psalms in the wilderness. He learned to trust God when no help was in sight. He said, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” He emerged as a man after God’s own heart.

Paul carried a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him. He besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. The Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul took pleasure in infirmities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. When he was weak, then he was strong. He counted the thorn as a companion that kept him humble.

There are so many other countless incidents. The Scripture teaches that temptations reveal what resides in the heart, temptations expose hidden weaknesses. Temptations drive the faithful to prayer. It produces patience, builds character and prepares one for greater glory.

James wrote that the trying of faith worketh patience. Patience has her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The redemption is far more than the temptation itself.

The adversary intends temptation for evil. He wants to destroy faith. He aims to produce bitterness. He works to drive souls away from God. But the Lord redeems the soul. He uses what the adversary means for evil and turns it around for good. The same fire that consumes wood purifies gold.

Perhaps the faithful may face temptations today. Perhaps the adversary whispers that God has abandoned the soul that crieth for relief. Perhaps the mind may be perplexed with diverse temptations.

Apostle Peter spoke of being in heaviness through manifold temptations, yet called them trials more precious than gold that perishes.

Peter wrote: “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” The suffering may be for a while, but the perfection, establishment, strengthening, and settling cometh.

Paul wrote: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Light affliction. But for a moment. Far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

The psalmist reassures: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” The Lord exposes the works done in the night. Tears have their expiration. Morning arrives with joy.

Jesus says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In the midst of the tribulation of the world, He promised His presence and victory.

Temptation comes with tribulation. The Adversary knows weak points. He has studied responses. He knows when one is tired, hungry, lonely, or afraid. He knows which doors to try. But the Lord knows also. He provides a way of escape. The way may require sacrifice. The way may appear narrow.

The temptation to doubt the Lord may come. The adversary may try to discourage the faithful. Yet: “The just shall live by faith.”

The road may be long. The battle may rage fiercely. The opposition may stand strong. The flesh may be weak. But the Word of God declares: “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Due season comes. Harvest follows.

Count it all joy. The Lord walks with you in the fire. He stands with you through the flood. He never leaves nor forsakes. His grace abounds.

Count it all joy. Light affliction lasts a moment. Eternal weight of glory exceeds all measure. Weeping may occupy a night. Joy commands the morning. He who began a good work is faithful to complete it.

Count it all joy. The plot of the adversary backfires. What he means for evil, God turns for good. Temptations can be a turn around for testimonies

The same God who delivered Job still delivers today. The same God who lifted Joseph still lifts the down-casted. The same God who kept David keeps you. The God who strengthened Paul strengthens you. The same God who raised Jesus raises you.

LET’S PRAY

Every temptation designed to destroy my faith, become a stepping stone to greater glory, in the name of Jesus.

O Lord, grant me grace to count it all joy when diverse temptations surround me.

Every spirit of discouragement assigned against me through trials, scatter by fire, in the name of Jesus.

Let patience have her perfect work in my life O Lord.

Every weapon of the enemy fashioned against me through temptation, backfire, in the mighty name of Jesus.

O God, provide a way of escape in every temptation, according to Your Word.

Let every plan of the enemy to use trials to produce bitterness in me, be nullified by the blood of Jesus.

Let the trying of my faith work for me an eternal weight of glory, in the name of Jesus.

Every temptation that may come to steal my joy, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.

I receive grace to overcome as Christ overcame.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Let’s Make These Declarations By Faith

I count it all joy when I fall into diverse temptations. The trying of my faith worketh patience. Patience has her perfect work in me. I am perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The Lord abides with me in every trial. His grace supplies all my needs accordingly to His riches in glory. His strength perfects itself in my weakness. He walks with me through the fire. He stands with me in the flood.

Every temptation I face is for good. In the midst of Trials I endure, in the battle I fight, I believe Joy cometh in the morning. For I know my redeemer liveth.

I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. Neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, powers, things present nor things to come, height nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Though the adversary may plan against me and fail. God turns things around for my good. Fire purifies me. Trial strengthens me. Battle prepares me for greater glory.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for the Lord is with me. I walk through diverse temptations with the joy of the Lord

In Jesus’ name, Amen!