Count It All Joy

Our church fellowship works on memorizing a passage of Scripture each year. To make the memorization manageable for those who struggle to memorize, we try to limit the text to about one or two verses each month. For those who are more adventurous, we encourage the memorization of the entire book from which the shorter passage comes. Last year that book was Philippians. For 2011 it is the book of James.

To give myself more encouragement to memorize (and to blog!) I thought I would write each week about the section I’m working on for that week. This begins with James 1:1-4:

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

This huge tree was lying across the path we needed to take during our backpacking trip last summer. With it came several types of danger. First was the steep angle–approximately 40 degrees, as seen in this picture. Carrying a heavy pack while scrambling over the tree could cause one to slip and tumble downhill amongst other trees. Slipping on the tree and stabbing oneself on a protruding limb was also possible, as were twisting ankles (or worse!) or scraping skin.

This was one of several “trials” on this particular trip. Objects such as trees, rocks, or even streams could present unexpected circumstances that we would need to navigate over, through, around, or even under. We could easily gripe and complain and groan–and sometimes we did! For the most part, though, we knew that the trials of the trail were worth it.

This is how James wants believers (or, as he calls himself, a slave of Christ) to view life in this sin cursed world. It is full of trials of many kinds, but we are to see them as the means by which God produces a steadfastness and perseverance within us. Obviously some trials will be accompanied by pain and sadness and sorrow–even loss. But our command is to view those trials as opportunities. We can have an attitude of joy in the midst of the pain because we know that our God is using them to bring us to maturity in Christ.

Yes, it is hard. Memorizing is hard! This is one of my little trials in life. But I’m learning to view it with joy. And my Master will use it to develop steadfastness and maturity in me. Maybe you should try it!