Better at Nurturing Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
James 1:2 (NIV) 

What is joy? In the context of this text, it is a deep and abiding sense of contentment or satisfaction, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. This means it’s not joy as a reflection. It’s joy as a reflex response. 

Every one of us could do a whole lot better at considering the joy of it all:

• To live better at choosing joy as a lens by which we will interpret the unfolding movements and gradations and experiences that make up our lives.
• To consider joy before we consider hurt or rage or regret.
• To consider joy before we choose mourning or hate or retaliation.
• To consider joy before we decide to completely shut down emotionally.
• To consider joy before we choose doubt and cynicism and detachment and negativity.
• To consider joy when interpreting persecution.

Have you considered that God is dispensing grace to your life because He wants to use you to prove to others that no matter how severe the persecution, Jesus can keep you seated and clothed and in your right mind?

James is saying to us: I don’t want your joy to always be a reflection. I want your joy to be a reflex response, which means in the middle of your persecution, in the middle of your trouble, I want you right in the midst of the torrential downpour to say, I don’t know how this is going to work out, but I know God’s got some grace in here somewhere, and instead of giving into anger, instead I’m going to wait on the Lord and be of good courage and know that He will strengthen my heart.

Joy is a choice. It is choosing to be happy because your contentment is not based on your circumstances, but it is based on what you know about the sovereignty of God. 

This text is teaching us that we can live better at considering joy when we keep space open in our suffering for grace.