Joy

James 1:2-4 NKJV

James Series

One of the things I’ve loved about the Book of James is his unique perspective on Jesus and everyday life. Today’s scripture is a perfect example. In James 1:2-4 he wrote, “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.”

When I was in my twenties and early thirties, I didn’t have the appreciation of this verse that I have today. I think that’s because when I was younger I lived in a world where I thought a good life was one devoid of troubles and trials. As I aged and trials came, I had to learn how to rethink my definition of good. See, I thought good meant God would always bless if I was obedient.

The first time I went through a major trial was really difficult. I thought, ‘What did I do wrong?’ As a result I even struggled with how to think about God’s love. It was a total change in my theology.

Up until that point, I thought if God loves me life would always be easy...and good.

Studying this verse in James helped to broaden my perspective. I mean, how can I be joyful when I am in the middle of a trial?

I had to learn that life wasn’t always filled with beautiful rainbows and there was no pot of gold around the corner.

Early ministry was very difficult financially. Tough decisions had to be made daily. We had to figure out a balance between where the thermostat was set and what good food to purchase. By the time we were full-time ministry, we had four children. Three were boys who were very active and ate a lot of food. While clothes were not such an issue with the boys, at that time it wasn’t socially acceptable to dress my daughter (the Pastor’s daughter) in Sears and Roebuck’s tough skin jeans and a used t-shirt from a second hand store.

I learned to pray about how we would pay the electric bill, feed a large family, and put clothes on their backs. I’m not sure I saw all of the miracles that God did, but looking back I now realize how much God helped us.

My parents knew how much our electric bill was and how much food was needed. They knew paying our bills would be difficult. It was the mid-eighties, and they had purchased a mini-van. We lived five hours from Kansas City (where my parents lived) and they regularly showed up with a van FULL of food. I’m not sure how they knew what food we couldn’t afford to buy, but they did. They brought soda pop, potato chips, cereal, canned goods, cheese, and 25 pound bags of flour, 20 pound bags of sugar, yeast, powdered sugar, butter and crisco, and spices.

At first the kids weren’t sure if eating homemade bread and rolls was weird or not, but they learned to appreciate my homemade treats (which included homemade cinnamon rolls and cookies). My cinnamon rolls became my signature item.

At the same time my in-laws were farming and they had cattle. When we visited, they would send us home with beef for our freezer.

My sister-in-law had one daughter who was 2 years older that my daughter. She passed down all her clothes. Many of the dresses she gave us had been passed down to her daughter. Those hand me downs included very expensive dresses. My daughter was always very well-dressed. No one knew they had been passed down twice.

God provided for everything.

Count a trial a joy.

Not only was our financial trial an opportunity for God, it blessed me greatly to see God at work in the details of life.

James also spoke about how we grow in faith in a trial. I learned first-hand that when we come to a point of believing and seeing God at work, we begin to learn how to be patient as we pray and wait to see how God is going to show up.

We learned that God WOULD show up when we had a need.

Every time without exception, God showed up, but sometimes we had to wait for God’s perfect timing. It became an exercise in faith and patience.

Patience had its perfect work.

God provided everything we needed (lacking nothing).

Seeing God at work in our lives during that time was one of the great blessings of my life. I learned about God’s perfect provision. I learned how to wait on God. It was (is) pure joy.

As a side-bar one of my daughter’s teachers once told me we must be very well-paid because my daughter always wore a lot of very expensive dresses. She was shocked to find out they were two time hand me downs.

I learned that God does have a great sense of humor.

Today’s Spiritual Practice is: provision

If you have a need, any kind of need, turn it over to God. Write your request down and put it in a place where you will see it daily. As you wait and watch, be filled with joy about what God is about to do! God WILL show up!

In God, Deborah

acrazyjourney.com