Joy Is A Decision of Perspective
Read: James 1:2
“Count it all joy…
”
Joy here is not emotional excitement. It is evaluative thinking. James does not say,
He says,
“Count it.
”
“Feel joyful.
”
This is an accounting term. You are assigning value to what is happening. And mature believers
assign value differently than immature ones. Immature faith evaluates trials as interruption.
Mature faith evaluates them as formation.
Joy does not deny difficulty. It interprets it through purpose. You may not enjoy the pressure.
You may not understand the delay. You may not prefer the season. But if you believe God is
sovereign, wise, and intentional — then this trial is not random. It is producing something.
James says,
“Knowing this…
”
Joy is connected to knowledge. If you do not understand what God is doing, you will resent it.
But if you understand that endurance is being formed — you can hold steady.
Joy says:
“This is hard, but it is not pointless.
”
And that shift changes emotional stability.
Reflection
What trial have I labeled as “interruption” that may actually be “construction”?
How would my emotional response change if I believed it was producing something necessary?
Prayer
Father, teach me to evaluate my season correctly. Replace resentment with perspective