"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Wow, this verse really speaks to me right now. It seems like in our current life, whenever Sarah and I take one step forward, we take another two right back. It seems that although making headway, we just never seen to get anywhere very quickly.
We have a five year plan and are right on target. But there are times when it seems that we may be able to make it into a 3 year plan. Then something comes up that puts us back on the 5 year plan. At times like those (in an overly dramatic fit born out of a misplaced persecution complex) I cry out (in a voice befitting William Shatner in Star Trek II) "WHYYYY??? WHHHHHYYYYYY???"
And of course God waits for my fit of self induced pity to pass and leans in closely and says "Because it is my plan for you."
Now, like a child who didn't get to play in their little league game because they were hurt (and it was in their best interests in the long run not to play) that does not do a very good job of consoling me at that very moment. But not because it is not correct or not good, but mostly because I do not want to be consoled. I want what I want.
But as I look back on things in the long run this verse comes to mind.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And I see that the person I have become is because of my trials (which are as much a part of God's grace as the blessings I receive every day) and I do count it all joy. Now keep in mind that joy does not necessarily mean happiness. My trials do not make me happy. I often am not smiling and happy while I am going through them. But I do count it joy. Why? Because as the definition of joy says it "brings the prospect of possessing what one desires." And deep within my being I don't desire a big screen TV or a nice house or 2.4 kids or even a wonderful loving woman in my life (although I am grateful for all these blessings and they also bring me varying levels of great, if not temporary, joy), but at the core of my being, what I desire is to be with Christ and have that great joy that he has set before me.
Now I need to get better at the second part of that first statement, and to take joy in meeting trials. You see, my joy is often after the trial has passed and I can look back on it and see God's intent. But I must learn to take joy the moment the trial arises, knowing that whatever man has meant for evil, God has meant for good (by the way I need to write a blog post about that verse from Genesis at some point).
The last part of the verse is where most of us (Christians) live. Because when the trial is done, and our faith has been tested and proved steadfast (by the way, not steadfast because of anything we do, but rather because that is the nature of the faith God has given us), we can look both back (knowing that God brought us through the trial and that we have learned and grown in it) and forward (seeing that one day this steadfastness will produce a glorified body and a clean soul able to live in perfect obedience to the will of God) and praise our wonderful God.
Mike
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