Fola Komolafe
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
Nobody likes trials or temptations but in this world they happen in different ways and at different points in our lives. These trials and temptations do not come from God for the bible says in James 1:14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God” for God cannot be tempt-ed by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone”. Trials and temptations come from the devil who is the god of this world, and who has been defeated and destroyed for us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
You and I therefore have the authority (the legal right) given to us by Jesus to bind and resist the devil knowing that in all these things we overcome and have the victory through Christ Jesus. It is what you know about God through His word that makes you able to ‘count it all joy’ when situations come against you. Do you know that one of the most annoying thing you can do to someone who is trying to get one over you is to laugh in their face? Basically this is what we do when we rejoice, we are laughing in the face of the devil and the situation, because we know that with God, we already have the victory and have overcome. It causes chaos and confusion in the enemies camp!
The word ‘to count’ is to make a considered choice because of what you know God says in His word. The later verses of James 1:2-4 say that you should make this considered choice to be joyful knowing that it will produce in you patience and make you perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
I have had to do this in situations I faced as my first response, rather than go with my feelings of sitting back, worrying and being anxious, instead I consciously chose to believe this verse and started to rejoice by faith, declaring God’s word of victory. As absurd as it might sound to the natu-ral mind, it transformed my perspective of the situation and gave me the steadfast faith to believe and agree with God’s word that the only outcome for me is one of victory, perfect and complete lacking nothing.
In the amplified version of John 16:33, which is absolutely life changing. Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration (pressure); but be of good cheer – take courage, be confident, certain and undaunted. For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and I have conquered it for you.”
Jesus says, be of good cheer when these things happen, because He has overcome the world with all its pressure for you. He has conquered it for you, so it has no power to harm you. It is all what Jesus has done for you – he says, ’I have, I have, I have, I have’ 4 times in that verse. Instead of uncertainty, worry and anxiety He gives you perfect peace, courage and confidence to pull through as you choose to be of good cheer.
Believe this, start counting it all joy and be of good cheer. Jesus has given you the victory and 2 Peter 2:9 says, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.”
The Lord knows how to deliver you from every adversity, every affliction, every trouble and He will. So, REJOICE!