An Opportunity to Choose

Season 2 Episode 33 - Why does God tell us in James 1:2 to "consider it all joy... when we encounter various trials?"  That seems counter-intuitive.  My first reaction to challenges in life is not usually joy.  I once asked God to help me understand this verse better.  What did He show me?  Listen to this episode and find out!

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, through applying my study of the Scriptures to life, in practical and fulfilling ways.
 
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, and subscribe/follow it, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily.
 
Resources that inspired some episodes:

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
 Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

James 1:2 NASB  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.

I guess that most of us understand the basic premise of this passage – that we can actually benefit from troubles in our life, because troubles can produce endurance and maturity and growth in character.  But in actuality, I can say that there are also times when I say to myself, “Really, God?  Are my current struggles really a benefit to me?  I don’t see or feel any benefit at this moment!”

I once asked God, “Can you help me understand this better?”  As I reflected upon this passage, God was faithful to give me the following insights.

When I am studying a passage in the Bible such as this one, I love to do 3 things:

·         Ask the Holy Spirit to help me understand the passage, and its application to my life.

·         Do word studies of the important words in the passage, looking at the various nuances of meaning in the original language.

·         Read different Bible translations of that passage, especially if the passage is very familiar to me.  Why?  Because I must confess that sometimes my mind sort of glosses over a familiar passage, and my heart does not engage with it.  I subconsciously tell myself, “I already know what that says.”  But when I read it reworded in a fresh, new way, the passage will often come alive to me and grip my heart.

The Greek word in this verse for joy means “calm delight.”  This helped me to grasp that God is not saying that followers of Jesus, when experiencing a challenge, will have a jump-up-and-down sort of exuberant joy.  (There is another Greek word for that sort of joy).  Instead, God is saying that we will have a calm delight – a peace that comes from knowing that God is with me in the midst of the challenge.

That was a very helpful insight.  But I wanted to learn more.  So I did further word studies.  When I then read this verse in the New Living Translation, it seemed to summarize very well the results of my word study:

James 1:2 NLT  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

First, this is referring to all of our troubles (“troubles of any kind”), not just some.  This is confirmed by a close look at the Greek words.

• Troubles of any kind = Greek, all troubles (both big and small).  
• This is why several other translations say something similar:  “trials of any sort” (AMP), “all sorts of trials” (NET)

Second, this is referring to a generous portion of calm delight and peace (“great joy”), not merely some joy mixed with much grief.  This is why several other translations say something similar:

• Great joy (HCSB, NLT), wholly joyful (AMP), all joy (ESV, NASB, KJV), pure joy (ISV), the greatest joy that you can [experience] (TPT).  
• In summary, this joy is not merely some joy mixed with much grief.  We are to consider it all joy.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, this is referring to a choice.  

·         Consider it an opportunity = Greek, to regard, to consider, to count, to consider it an opportunity to make a choice. 

• This was the new insight for me.  I have a choice, an opportunity to choose my response.  Will I choose a biblical response based on my faith in God’s goodness and care for me?  Or will I choose an unbiblical response, based on my lack of faith in God’s goodness and care for me?  This is why I sometimes experience joy in the midst of troubles, and sometimes I don’t – because of how I choose to respond.  God faithfully provides a way for me to experience joy in those moments or seasons of trial.  Will I choose that way, or not?

·         Therefore, whenever troubles come my way, I will regard these troubles as an opportunity to choose one of the following:

·         To have a negative, counterproductive response (ignore the opportunity for joy, and instead express anger, self-pity, blame God or others, withdraw, etc.).  Or,

·         To have a positive, productive response (consider it an opportunity to draw near to God and others, learn something new about myself or others, develop further godly character, etc., and thereby make it an opportunity for a generous portion of calm delight and peace)

I am therefore purposing that, when troubles come my way, I will consider it an opportunity to choose to draw near to God and others, learn something new about myself and others, develop further godly character, and thereby experience a generous portion of calm delight and peace. 

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”