Count It All Joy?

Have you ever looked at particular commands in the Bible and thought, I don’t know if I can do that?  There’s a specific verse in the book of James that has always made me break out in a cold sweat until I recently looked at it a little more closely.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. - James 1:2-3

Count it all joy when I’m going through trials?  Um, seriously?  Tuesday morning, I awoke with a migraine that stayed with me all day long.  By Tuesday night, I was exhausted, but my mind was whirling around with everything I didn’t get done that day, and as a result, I only got a couple of hours of sleep.  So, Wednesday, I felt like a zombie.  My head felt strange and woozy.  My body felt like it weighed a million pounds.  Whenever I got up to do something, I felt like I would pass out.  So, I went to bed and stayed there all day. . .again.

Today, I’m feeling much better, but I’ll be honest, when I look at my calendar of obligations, I’m finding it difficult to count it all joy that I lost two days of work this week.  In fact, I’m having to work hard to keep a good attitude, period.  I’m not feeling joyful in any way, shape, or form.  That being said, I look at this passage in James and declare myself an utter failure.  Good Christians are supposed to be able to rejoice even in the bad times, and here I am just trying to keep the stress at bay.  Loser!

Or am I?  Let’s look at this passage a little closer, particularly the phrase in verse 2 that states, “count it all joy.”  The word “count” literally means to think, consider, or deem.  The process involves making up our minds about something and has absolutely nothing to do with feelings or emotions.

James didn’t tell us to feel joyful about our trials.  He only urged us to believe the truth about trials—that it produces patience.  It’s all about knowing, not feeling.  It’s about saying, “This doesn’t feel good right now, and I don’t feel particularly joyful about it, but I choose to trust God.  If He allowed this to happen, I know in my heart (despite my feelings) that it’s for my good and His glory.”

I heard it said from a pulpit recently that if one walks around with a frown on his face, it’s questionable whether or not he’s even saved.  May I remind you that Jesus wept on multiple occasions?  I seriously doubt when He was praying in the garden and sweating blood that He wore a smile on His face.  And you know what?  I’m not sure He was feeling particularly joyful at that moment, but with tears in His eyes and anguish on His face, He declared, “Not my will, but thine be done.”  He considered it all joy.

Maybe you’re in a situation today that has you down.  Perhaps you’re struggling to find joy in the journey right now.  If so, I encourage you to count it all joy.  No, don’t hide your pain or plaster on a fake smile.  But, believe in your heart that God is doing a good thing through this trial.  Trust in His goodness and faithfulness despite how broken you feel.  Believe there is beauty in the brokenness, and maybe one day, you’ll start to feel it, too.