Count It All Joy!

Bible Text: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2)

Have you ever heard someone quote the words of this verse to another person going through a rough time?  What exactly does this verse mean?  And how can we count a really and truly painful experience “all joy”? Is that even possible?

To begin with, let’s take a quick look at the meaning of the word “count” as it is used in this verse.  “Count” is from the Greek word hegeomai, which means consider, think, deem, account - The English dictionary defines consider as to think carefully, to view carefully or thoughtfully.  It also defines deem as to judge, to form an opinion (Dictionary.com).  So from the meaning of the word “count”, James is exhorting his readers to view their trials of faith thoughtfully; to see beyond the trials themselves, and to develop a well-informed and well thought-out opinion about their trials.  By so doing, they would see past the actual trials, and catch a glimpse of the tremendous reward and profit attached to the trials.  That’s why he tells them to reckon or “calculate” the trials to be all joy. 

Counting it all joy is not to say that trials are desirable experiences or are a walk in the park.  In fact, the bible describes the trial that was to be experienced by the Christian recipients of Apostle Peter's first epistle as “fiery” (1 Pet. 4:12).  That certainly doesn’t sound like fun or joy.  Paul even states that at one point in his ministerial life, he and his fellow workers where burdened beyond measure and above their strength so much so that they “despaired even of life” (1 Cor. 1:18).  That sounds like a fiery trial indeed.  So, clearly, trials are hard and troubled times.  That’s why the bible speaks of  “bearing” or “enduring” them.  But when the believer is calculative in his perception of his trials, and focuses on what God has promised to bring out of trials, he would be able to rejoice, not because the trial is not painful, but because of the promises and profits that awaits him on the other side of the trial. 

Another passage of the scripture where the word for “count,” hegeomai  is used is Acts 26:2, where Paul was making his case before King Agrippa.  There Paul states, "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today.” Before this statement, Paul had gone through a series of highly traumatic ordeals, which included being arrested and mobbed by outraged Jewish protesters, an unsuccessful self-defense before an angry fanatic crowd, another self-defense before the religious council, a narrow escape from an assassination plot, a futile appeal and trial before Governor Felix, which led to two years of incarceration, and another unproductive self-defense before Governor Festus, all for his faith and proclamation of the gospel of Christ. And now, when in Acts 26, Paul takes another stand before King Agrippa to defend himself of all the allegations leveled against him, he says, "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider (hegeomai) myself fortunate [blessed, happy], King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today.” Does Paul mean that he is blessed with all the pains and sufferings that have led up to this appearance before King Aggripa, or even the fact that he is again having to take a defense stand is a fortunate thing? Of course not!  Rather, what Paul is saying is that he “counts” or calculates all his ordeal a blessing, knowing that Christ said, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11-12; emphasis added). Paul is obviously seeing beyond the mistreatments, allegations, injustice and imprisonment.  He is calculating the proceeds that his trial would yield in heaven. That is the way we are to see and think about trials. That is the way to understand James’ instruction to “count it all joy” when we fall into diverse trials.  Having this perspective on trials is what makes the difference between a melancholic, downcast, and dispirited believer and a joyful one, even though they may be passing through the same fiery situations.  One is always considering what is on the other side of the trial, while the other is too fixated on and absorbed by the challenges of the trial itself.

Which way have you been perceiving your trials?  Notice that ten verses after he instructs us to "count it all joy," Apostle James tells us the outcome of successfully navigating our unavoidable earthly ordeals:  “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12; emphasis added).  The word “approved” in this verse is significant. In James 1:3 we are actually told that trials are primarily the “testing of our faith.” The word “testing” here is from the Greek word dokimion, which means proving, to test in order to prove the quality of. It is not a test in order to fail something, but rather to assure the quality of it.  Ideally, a consumer product is not stamped “approved” until it has been put through the test and has been proven to meet the standard industry requirements. So when we are been tried, our faith is been proven and at the same time being refined to attain the highest quality possible. The intent of the undesirable process is actually for an eternally good cause.  

In fact, our Lord and Savior Himself (Who is not a man that He should lie) offers perhaps the most encouraging reason to not buckle but to endure our fiery trials in Revelations 3:21: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  Wow!  What a great and glorious future awaiting those that endure and overcome the trial of their faith.  Believers, be encouraged. Wipe off the tears from your face. Stop asking God “why me.”  Stop thinking “God doesn’t love me,” or God has cast me aside.”  Remember that He said “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it “1 Corinthians 10:13.”  Instead, start asking God, “what exactly do you want me to gain through all of these; what are You teaching me Father?” Ask God for grace and strength to handle whatever He has permitted to come your way. Ask the Holy Spirit to begin to help you develop a different perspective on your trials, so you can start to “count it all joy” instead of “all a drag”. Start to calculate the immense glory and reward that your trials are accruing for you in the kingdom of God, Who is a faithful “Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). As from today, begin to count it all Joy!