Consider It Joy
Posted by | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 13-08-2009
“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.”
James 1:2-4
I’m sure we’ve all read this verse many times. How many of us really consider it “joy” when we face a trial? I realize we are all going to face them but I don’t enjoy them. My wife reminded me of this verse Monday morning. I got up to go golfing with a friend at 6:00 a.m. Thunder was rumbling so we decided we would not be golfing. The rains kept coming. The stream behind our house was already high from the day before. In the back of my mind I thought, “Just don’t let the power go out.”
The water was rising quickly and the garden was soon under water. It didn’t take long for the whole house to be surrounded by water. My two youngest were very frightened (especially when the swing set started to float away!). We eventually had to move the car to higher ground and also needed to move things off the shed floor because water was up to the door of the shed. My wife said, “consider it joy” reminding me of James, chapter one. “Yes, dear, I’m so happy we got flooded and lost the garden, your flowers. The basement was flooded because the sump pump got plugged and we lost our hot water tank. The smell also leaves a bit to be desired.”
The whole time (and even today) in my mind I was thinking, “Lord what am I learning from this? Why did you allow this to happen?” I know there are always lessons to learn. It reminded me of the disciples in the boat when the storm came. They became frightened like my kids. They awoke Jesus and he calmed the storm. I know I’m like the disciples a lot when things like this happen.
Tuesday morning, my wife shared with me Psalm 29:3, “The Lord is over many waters.” The Lord is in control of everything. We spend so much time in our lifestyles, cutting the lawn, working in the garden, keeping things nice and in a second or a minute it’s gone. Maybe my time should be spent in other things that glorify Him. These possessions that we spend so much time on are all going to burn in the end (Rev 21:1).
Jim Hunt