COUNT IT ALL JOY!
“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.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
Growing up in Louisiana, I was always surrounded by family, friends, and great food. The saying in the South, “Laissez Bon Temps Roulez!” or “Let the Good Times Roll!” was very true for me. I remember many nights with my family: laughing, listening to music, enjoying the sunset after a sail, and just having fun. It didn’t matter the reason, we were always looking for something to celebrate. Louisiana people are famous for that! Perhaps as a child, I was just plain unaware of the pressures of life. At that time, it was easy to “Count it all Joy!”
But somewhere, along the journey from childhood to adulthood, we quickly discover that the days of laughter and carefree living can sometimes be turned into various trials and difficult situations. Life no longer seems like a party and we find ourselves trying to navigate our way back to simpler times.
Have you ever wondered, “How did I get to this point?” I sure did! As a mom of four, my life was wonderful, but at times seemed overwhelming. I remember many sleepless nights and very exhausting days. I felt like I was just stumbling through, trying to survive! Perhaps to others, my world seemed just fine. But on the inside, I was feeling very tired and frustrated. With the enormous task of raising these precious children and managing my household, I found I could hardly take care of myself. It was becoming more and more difficult to “Count it ALL Joy!” It was in this season of my life that I quickly discovered I was not the only one experiencing these feelings. In attempt to understand why so many women, and especially moms, were having this same challenge, I made a decision to turn to the Bible for answers. I was amazed at what I found.
Check out this scripture: John 10:10 (NKJV) says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly!”
If Christ came so we could have an abundant life, then I have to believe He wants us to enjoy it. Could this mean that the enemy is trying to steal our joy? Yes, that is exactly what the scripture says. If we lose our joy, we become weary and tired. We begin to worry and life seems overwhelming. But there’s hope! In Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) we learn, “Do not grieve (worry) for the joy of the LORD is your strength." In my own life, I reached a point where I refused to let this happen anymore! I wanted to live my life filled with joy. God wanted me joyful, abundantly joyful! So I had to make a choice.
If you’re ready, like I was, to reclaim your joy, then you’re going to have to make a choice to trust God’s Word. He wants you to enjoy your life with Him, so come out of that dark tunnel and into His light. Here is a simple plan to help you navigate your way back:
REST. Enter into the Lord’s rest! Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” When we don’t enter into His rest, we become restless! And that’s exactly what will happen. We will “rest less.” But when we enter His rest, His joy begins to fill our hearts, our strength is renewed and patience can begin its perfect work. Isn’t that good news? When we rest our hearts and minds, we are actually allowing God to be the one who works our problems out. James Chapter 1 teaches us to “let patience have its perfect work.” When we let go and trust God to handle our problems, we can finally sleep at night. Pretty soon, the weight of the day will be lifted off our shoulders. It’s like the Lord is saying, “I’ll take care of it; you just relax!” Take a moment to just breathe and rest in the Lord.
PRAY. Become a warrior, not a worrier! Philippians 4:6 (NLT) says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Grab hold of the scriptures that encourage you in your trial and pray through them. Let His Word be your weapon and it will bring joy, life and victory. When I am faced with a challenge, I like to get out my Bible and find a scripture that relates to my situation, even if it is just one scripture. As I pray and stand on His Word, He begins to move in my life. The problems don’t seem to be so big and God begins to work things out. You will be amazed what a difference a day makes when you spend time reading your Bible and praying.
PLAY! Enjoy the life God has given you. Choose to focus on the good of your day, not just the bad! Get back to the simple things of life. Take a walk, go to the park, have some ice cream and create a memory with those you love. Don’t forget to take a few pictures along the way!
A joy-filled life doesn’t mean that we won’t ever experience challenges. In fact, trials may be all around us, big and small. But it’s how we walk through those trials that will make the difference. We can make a decision to choose joy and let patience have its perfect work. Instead of allowing ourselves to get stressed and frustrated, We can choose to follow the scripture and let God be the one to see us through. It isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it!
Perhaps you have been feeling sad, confused, or even just tired? Let me encourage you today to trust the Lord to lead you and fill you with His joy. Make a choice to enter into His rest today, pray through those circumstances, and go have some fun! “Count it all Joy” or should I say, “Let the Good Times Roll!”
