COUNT IT ALL JOY...

Have you gone through any trials in your life? If we have lived for very long, yes of course we have.  Some have had trials in relationships, with marriages and children, some in their health, some in their finances, etc. Right now, the whole world is in a huge trial. No one is immune—from the richest to the poorest—we are all being affected by this pandemic.  It is a great test of faith for us. But, how should we, as believers in Jesus, respond to this hardship?
 
James speaks about what our posture should be when facing various tests and trials:
James 1:2-4 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. ...
 
Why should we count it all joy? That seems hard, right? We count it all joy because it produces patience in us; it shows how much you trust God. If you never get to use your faith, how will you know its strength?
 
I love what it says in the Passion translation; when your faith is tested, it stirs up power in you to endure:
 
James 1:2-4 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
 
He goes on to say in the Passion translation:
 
James 1:12 If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!
 
So if we stay strong during these tests, we receive the blessings of God, and the joy of God. You could compare it to using your muscles. When you use them, you become stronger. If you don’t build up your muscles, then you won’t have strength when you need to use them. It’s the same with our faith. It only grows when we use it.
And, the tests and trials in life are there to help grow us in our faith. If we never have any tests, then we remain stagnant in our faith—it doesn’t grow. So the tests are actually producing something in our lives.

I remember watching a movies years ago—the young man was in training, and the older, experienced man was his teacher.  He told the young man: “Everything is a test”.
 
We can say the same thing; everything is a test in our lives.  What is being tested? Our faith!
 
We see in the Bible that many were tested in their faith. Here are some examples of the testing of faith; let’s see what their report card looks like, if they passed the test or not.
 
1. Abraham was tested in his faith, but he passed the test: Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  Report: 10/10 Abraham passed the test.
 
2. In Moses’s time, the people were being tested: Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
Again:
Exodus 20:20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”
 Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (whether they would believe God)
 Deuteronomy 13:3 ..for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Report. Moses and Joshua passed the test, but the Israelites did not, generally speaking. 0/10.
 
 3.  Job was being tested: Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. Report: Job passed the test. Eventually.

4. What is said about Joseph, as he was tested: Psalm 105:19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. Report: Joseph passed the test. 10/10
 
5. We are being tested; God tests the sons of men: Psalm 11:4 The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Psalm 17:3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
 
So you can see how are you doing in this test.  We haven’t had to offer up our only son, like Abraham, and we haven’t been put in prison  like Joseph. But our faith is being tested during this virus outbreak.  How are you doing? What is your report card?
 
I’m sure many of us are in peace, praying and believing God. But if that isn’t you, I want to give you some words of hope, and what you can do during this time.
 
1. First, this too shall pass. This won’t last forever- there will be an end. Probably soon, since we are in Passover, and it is backing down now. Things will come back to ‘normal’, although it might be a "different time".
2. It would be a great time to spend more time with the Lord, building your faith. Read the Bible and see how others went through storms. This will build your faith! Let Him speak a scripture to you that you can stand on. Spend  time than in His presence, just waiting on Him, letting Him speak to you.
3. Be a doer of the Word; that is, speak forth your faith. Declare and decree the promises of God over you and your family. Speak bold words of faith!
4. Pray! Pray for healing—pray for salvation for your family and friends.
5. Ask the Lord what you can be doing to help strengthen others during this time; through acts of service, or prayer, or giving, etc.
 
And, count it all joy.... knowing that your faith (and the faith of the body of Christ in general) is being tested, but we  are growing through this..... it will make us all stronger on the other side of this.