Count it joy pt 3
When we face problems and adversities in life, there is a powerful truism we must remember: about 80% of the situation depends on how you respond, and only 20% is the actual problem itself. In our recent study of James chapter one, we tackled that challenging command to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials." I admit, this is not our natural reaction. I remember years ago when my wife and I were rejected for a pastoral position in Santa Fe—a place we loved. We had packed our mental bags, fasted, and prayed, only to be told "no." At that moment, I did not count it joy; I counted it as a loss. I put it in the wrong ledger. But looking back over decades of ministry since then, I realize that getting perspective often requires the wisdom of experience to see what God was actually doing.
The key to shifting your perspective lies in one specific word found in verse three: "knowing." James writes that we can rejoice because we are knowing that the testing of our faith produces something valuable. This isn't just knowing facts or having an education—because the facts of your situation might look bleak. This is a "knowing" by spiritual discernment. It is recognizing that God’s purpose in your pain is not to destroy you, but to grow you. Much like a diamond formed under intense pressure or iron forged in fire, your faith is being proven and purified. God is not absent in your struggle; He is actively at work producing a spiritual durability that cannot be gained any other way.
We often misunderstand what this testing produces because many Bible translations use the word "patience." When we hear patience, we think of waiting quietly for a hamburger at a restaurant while the cook is busy. But the original Greek word is hupomoné, which means something far more robust. It means steadfastness, endurance, and the ability to bear up under a heavy load without throwing in the towel. It is a refusal to quit. God isn't looking for passive waiting; He is building spiritual muscle and grit within you. He is inviting you to stand strong and say, "I will not give up," even when the pressure mounts.
Recently, I watched one of my sons navigate a difficult job loss. He was treated unfairly and let go, yet I never heard him or his family speak a word of doubt or negativity. Instead of panicking as his savings dwindled, he trusted that God was up to something better—and he was right. He counted it right, moving that trial from the "unpleasant" side of the ledger to the "joy" side. Today, I want to challenge you to do the same. If you are in the fire right now, check your ledger. Don't look at the loss; look at the endurance being produced. Count it all joy, knowing that God is crafting a masterpiece in you.