One of my life goals is to live a dynamic life, filled with joy and happiness all the time, free of fear and worry. When I shared that with a friend the other day, he said it's not possible. He said life is filled with all sorts of struggles, problems, heartaches, difficulties, so to have a joyful life all the time is unrealistic.
When I read James 1:1-11, James said, "count it all joy when you fall into various trials". We don't choose to have trials, but we can choose how we respond when trials come into our lives. Someone paraphrased it like this: "don't resent trials as intruders, but welcome them as friends!"
Selwyn Hughes said that trials are our friends and will bring us joy if our goal is to become more like Jesus. But if our goal is to avoid problems and struggles, our trials will seem more like intruders.
In my life, I have battled with frustration, apprehension, fear and anxiety. It is easy to fall into the trap of doubting, fretting and wondering if God has forsaken us. But it's important to refuse to be discouraged and focus on how God could use the trial to make us more like Jesus.
Let us 'count it all joy' by faith, by resolution and by reckoning. And as Hughes said, we shall then surely find that God will make the reckoning real!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Count It All Joy
My life purpose is to coach women toward their life purpose.
I am also passionate about inspiring, encouraging and facilitating entrepreneurs to transform and grow rich in life's major areas: spiritual life, relationship, personal development, health and finance.
I'm living and loving LIFE! I am a child of God, daughter, wife, sister and friend!
I own an Unfranchise Business through Market Australia SHOP.COM
www.kittycheng.com
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10 comments:
Great post Sis! I think that's a great goal and especially wise instruction on trials. We may not actualize continual joy but it is available in Christ.
Happiness I think is a transient state so it may not be as continual as we would like but peace and joy are always available in Christ our Lord.
Wonderful post, dear sister!
I think it has to do with setting your feelings aside. After all... not all that feels bad, is bad. We may not want it, but it may be needed to grow to be more Christ-like.
Have a very blessed day!
God's Grace.
Dearest Kitty
Great, encouraging post!
"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going" =)
His grace and strength are always sufficient for you and I.
Take care, dear sis.
(((HUGS)))
we can't choose what trials would come our way but every time they come, we can either choose to respond or react to it. it's only by God's grace and our faith in Him that we can come out of them victorious.
God bless you, sis.
Hi Kc, yes joy is always available in Christ for us. What do you mean by happiness as a transient state?
Hi Corry, thank sis for your kind words! Yes we shouldn't rely on our feelings, but on Christ!
Hi Audrey, thanks for yor encouragement sis! I like you quote: "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going" =) Amen to that! (((hugs)))
Hi Pia, it makes a difference whether we respond or react to the trials that come our way doesn't it? Yes God's grace is always suffifient for us in trials.
Sis I had a brilliant (if I do say so myself hehe) and lengthy explanation in mind but I think I can best explain with this verse, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psa 126:5).
Our present disposition will vary with our circumstances but the peace we have is in the knowledge of God's providence in all things and the joy we have is in His salvation. This is our integrity and allows us to be content in all situations. ;-)
kc, i have no doubt that you have a brilliant explanation ;) Thanks also for the great reminder on Psa 126:5.
I love what you said there!!! So encouraging and so true!
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