The Outcome of Joy

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

No matter what we will ever face in life, we can choose to count it as joy! Faith looks at trials and tribulations and chooses joy because, as believers, we already know the outcome: victory!

The trials we face may not be joyful, but our response to the trials can be joy.

Our feelings and reasonings will want to complain, panic, worry, and fear, but rather than letting the fear of the circumstances dictate our response, we choose to believe what God has said in His Word and choose joy! We can choose joy by letting God’s Word be what we focus on and meditate on. Let His Word be the words that come out of our mouths, His Word be the praise on our lips, His Word be the anchor that keeps us steady.

The account of Paul and Silas in prison is a wonderful example of how we can choose to believe God in the midst of a dark situation. Although they were beaten and then thrown into prison unjustly, rather than complain and talk about how unfair life was, they chose to pray and sing hymns to God. They chose joy because they knew that God was greater than their circumstances and that He is faithful to cause them to triumph.

I am sure that at the moment, they didn’t feel like praising God, but they chose to praise God, and as a result, God had access to their situation and brought them to victory!

We can learn from Paul and Silas how to respond to trials and tribulations, rather than complain and give into the worry and fear, we can choose to believe God and rejoice!

Let’s not limit God through words of doubt and unbelief; let’s be those who believe God, count it all joy, and experience the victory that already belongs to us in Christ! We’re not trying to get the victory, we already have the victory in Jesus! Praise the Lord! So let’s choose joy today! What you’re facing is simply a light and momentary affliction. (2 Cor. 4:17)

Remember, we love you, and we are praying for you.

Blessings,

Chloe