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 always defines the demands and the expectations. James was addressing his Jewish brethren, who through persecution and tough times, had been scattered all over the world at the time. If I want to claim the pleasure, I have to submit to the pressure. Jesus told his disciples that he has a yoke for them. It is not a yoke of oppression, but a yoke of responsibility and accountability. Being called by the name of Christ places a demand to live up to His expectations. He does not ask me to do it by my own personal labour; in fact, no one can succeed by striving or labour. The One who calls is the one who can uphold and sustain. We have the resources we need for the call that we have received and responded to. However, it is important that I clarify where I stand. Have I truly responded to the call? Am I willing and ready to endure and enjoy that which He has promised? 

When we say He has given us all that we need for life and Godliness, what does it mean? Can life be without tough times or trials? Can a man really be Godly without having to endure tough times? It is a package that God has set up for our growth, development and expansion, and it is by surrender that we have access to all that is available. This 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. We do not know which James this was, but 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. Whatever you place in His hands is safe. Are you in His hand? God's time of favour is here.