🎶 “Count it all joy when the world starts crashing. Hold your head up and keep on dancing.” 🎶 Alright -MercyMe
This song has been my anthem this year. But yesterday the phrase, “Count it all joy,” just permeated my soul.
Can I just be honest my Facebook friends? “I’m weary.”
I’m weary of remote learning.
I’m weary of not seeing my children.
I’m weary of the political divide.
I’m weary of sisters and brothers in Christ breaking relations with me because I dare to see the world differently.
I’m weary that my Thanksgiving table will be empty.
I’m weary that it’s hard for so many to acknowledge black lives matter.
I’m weary of hatred spewed by those who call themselves Christians.
I’m weary of counting it all joy.
But James does not command us to count it all joy for nine months then we can break down and have a temper tantrum. So even in my weariness, I must find a way to count it all joy!
How does one do that?
Remember, joy is not happiness. Joy is an expression of faith. Joy does not look at situations with our natural eyes but joy sees the battle being won in the heavenly places and rejoices. Joy sees possibility in the most dire of situations. While we take authority over the enemy, his actions are not the headlines of our lives. Joy is produced when our headlines are what
God is doing!
Count it joy because your trial is just another opportunity to see the miracle working power of God.
Count it joy because you are learning to endure.
Count it joy because your faith is being strengthened.
Count it joy because you are being perfected into His image.
So, I will count it as joy.
I will find joy in learning new teaching strategies during remote learning.
I will celebrate time with my tribe (women in my bible study.)
I will pray for our president-elect and for a unified country. I will cross the aisle and reach out to those who are different.
I will find joy that I am accepted in the beloved.
I will rejoice that MBoldenMinistries will provide Thanksgiving for 50 families.
I will rejoice in the influence God has given me and use my influence as an agent of change.
I will rejoice in the outpouring of love demonstrated as we collected food for the disadvantaged.
Brothers and sisters, 🎶 “Count it all joy when the world starts crashing. Hold your head up and keep on dancing.” 🎶
“My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”
James (Jacob) 1:2-4 TPT