“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 (mature) and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Several years ago Adventures in Odyssey created an episode “Count it All Joy”. The story focused on Erica, a middle school student, who believed her life was beyond rough. Bratty little sister, chores before and after school, having to write an extra report in science class. After school she stops at Whit’s End – the hang out for all the kids. She runs into her friend Ginny who is always happy. This confuses Erica since Ginny is blind. She asks her how she manages to do this. Ginny points her to James 1: 2 – 4. Count it all joy becomes the catch phrase for Erica. The next day she uses it when she get extra chores, she has to re-do the lost science report and she has to run five laps because she was late to gym class. She can’t understand why “count it all joy” isn’t making her happy like Ginny.
Many people can relate to her confusion. We, also, want a catch phrase to get us through life’s troubles. The bible is an excellent place to find one. We need to understand what the verse means before making our claim as our life’s verse. In our story Erica made an error in understanding. She was looking for happiness, James was telling her about joy. She equated the two words as being inter-changeable. She was seeking something that would make her happy all the time.
Are you happy? Are you happy all the time? Many years ago Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” characters were made into a little book called “Happiness is a Warm Puppy”. Each page had an image of Charlie, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and the gang with a “Happiness is” quote. It was a nice gift book to make someone feel better when they thought of all the different ways to be happy. Maybe to take their mind away from a struggle they were currently experiencing. The book would not, as the verse did not for Erica, actually make you permanently happy. James never intended his statement concerning trials of every kind to bring eternal happiness.
He was telling his readers that there would be trials in their life, ones that would test their faith to the deepest levels. Through steadfastness, which can be looked at as continued prayer and dependence on the Savior, we may be made perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. These trials bring us closer to Jesus as they help us realize that our only true hope in in Him. In knowing this, in enduring the trial and trusting that He is with us, we can count even the very trial as something to be joyful about.
May James be one of the books on your list to dive deep – and remember “Count it All Joy”.
May the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you always. Amen
________________________________________________
If you want to find out how it turns out for Erica Adventures in Odyssey offers their episodes for a donation to the ministry.
Comments