Can I Really Count It All As Joy?

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"

James 1:2

Can you imagine what it would be like if no one was willing to endure a little hardship?  What if Noah Had decided that the whole ark business was just too much work for a man nearing his retirement?

What if Moses had quit and gone home after the 3 plagues?

What if Joshua decided to tip toe past Jericho?

What if Esther was unwilling to reschedule a manicure?

What if David had declared that he did not like confrontations - especially with foreign giants?

What if Solomon had asked for cash up front?

What if Daniel had decided it was easier to try to fit in?

But, they didn't.  They had a job to do.....and they looked to God for their guidance with each step they took.  They counted it all joy.  It can be a monumental shift in perspective, but we too can count it all joy.... meaning we would need to change the way we think and instead of always seeing the glass half empty, we instead see the good in it and see the glass half full.  All our perseverance and endurance will result in both present joy and future joy.  It all counts.  

What does it mean to count your trials as joy?  I know its just not that easy for me to count any of my trials as joy.....especially in the mornings when we are getting ready for work and school and everyone has the morning  grouchies.  We each have different struggles, so personalize this concept.  What is on your list?  Do you have a list?  Write down what kind of struggles or trials you might have.  Its good to see those things on paper sometimes.  But when your looking at your list, ask God to give you eyes to see the bigger picture....the bigger perspective in order to find joy in our trials.  Pray that God will help you see things His way.

In God's way of thinking, everything that comes our way has a purpose.  The things we'd rather forget or do over again might be the very things He is using to make us stronger, wiser, and more trusting.  We are to count it all joy, even when life throws us a curve ball.