Rejoice!

Rejoice!

James 1:2-3 AMPC

[2] Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. [3] Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

The audience defines the expectation and the experience. James was addressing brethren, who through persecution and tough times, had been scattered all over the world at the time. The message can be tough to deal with, but at no time does submission to God keep you from tough times. In fact, it appears that this is when things get even tougher. The devil has just lost a subject, and he will fight tooth and nail to get the subject back. He will raise issues from the past, or create situations in the present, just to cause distractions, and if possible, get the subject to return to old ways. That has been his modus operandi for all the centuries he has been at work, but there is an even older grace that is available to help all who are totally surrendered to endure these tough times and to be victorious at the end of the pursuit. This is why I have to sort out my identity. I cannot afford to be non-committal about who I am and what is expected of me. 

Speaking from experience, James would have seen firsthand the consequences of his decision to follow Christ. He would have gone through trials too, but there was an inner peace that was greater and bigger than the sum of all the tough experiences. It is the inner presence that defines the outer reality. When a man has God, the world around him cannot explain why he is not weighed down by anxiety, stress and anger. The world cannot understand why he is always joyful, even when his life does not appear to have reasons for joy. In the hands of God, no experience is a waste. In the hands of God, every experience is a testimony waiting to be confirmed. Nothing touches me without first passing through Him and getting His express permission. The dosage and the frequency are tuned and timed by Him to ensure that I can learn His lessons the right way. 

The trials are tests to help me know where I still need help, and the areas where God has enabled me to have victory. I am told to have joy because of all that I am going through, simply because that test has a higher value, and it is to teach and entrench endurance, steadfastness and patience in me. How else can God teach me these virtues, unless the experiences are real. Again, you may ask why tough times are necessary in the first place. How can God trust the quality and depth of my convictions if they have never been tested for high-pressure situations? As long as God allows it, it will end in praise if I allow God work out that which aligns with His purpose. Even when the vision tarries, I will wait for it, because I know whom I have believed. Even when the storms rise, the winds blow and the rains come down hard, I am set upon the rock that cannot fail. Do you know this God? God's time of favour is here.