Counting it Joy

James 1:2–8 NKJV

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. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

it appears the key to being capable of counting it all joy when facing trials is patience. However, that patience according to vs. 5 appears to give us the perspective or foundation from which patience in trials comes.

Which is wisdom.

If you lack wisdom, you lack patience.

If you lack patience, you lack peace.

If you lack peace, you lack joy.

Wisdom is knowledge applied. it is not enough to know a thing, but one must put that knowledge into practice, then one can act wisely.

God is able to supernaturally equip the believer with wisdom beyond knowledge by faith alone.

Faith doesn't look down at the water wondering if it'll hold you up when attempting to walk on water. Faith looks at jesus and ignores the obstacles which would stand between you and him.

3 avenues by which we can choose joy

Ask - receive

seek - receive

knock - receive

3 instances, but the result in each is the reward of wisdom for enduring faith that overcomes.

There are times when one needs wisdom, right now!

in those moments when time is short, anxiety is rising, and troubles are multiplying before your eyes. Or perhaps someone has approached you with their burdens, problems, and trials SEEKING wisdom to endure. Wisdom which you may not have in that moment.

Will God not give it unto you if you merely paused in that moment, bowed your head and asked God to give you wisdom regarding the situation before you. Then raise your head and begin to speak in faith, knowing the Holy Spirit is your guide, He is your teacher, and that the word of God says as long as you believe and do not doubt, if you ask for wisdom then God who is faithful will surely give it to you!

What does that look like?

It looks like immediately upon saying amen, you trust that you have placed your hand in His, and begin to speak to that friend in faith the wisdom which comes. Do you not trust in God's gentle direction by His Holy Spirit in who He can gently tug your hand this way our that, guiding you to the end answer either you yourself are asking for in wisdom, or a friend in need is seeking an answer of hope from, and in you.

Seeking wisdom is paramount in equipping the believer with knowledge by which God can activate in you, and you can put into practice as a self discipline as well.

Not all actions of the believer are supernatural, instant, and divine inspiration of God as if we are firing a hand gun down range in the dark depending soley upon the unseen guidance from the Holy Spirit within to ensure EVERY SHOT hits its mark. Though there are times for this as well. We must put in the labor, and self discipline to seek out wisdom.

Study the word, ask of mentors and pastors, read, pray, listen to sermons and take notes, eagerly pursue knowledge though not for knoweldge sake alone, however in humility of our low position to be a fully equipped vessel for God, not a puffed up know it all.

Knowledge puffs up, but the spirit builds up. Remember that knowledge is not the gauge which intelligence should be measured. The fool has knowledge, and plenty of it. It takes a massive amount of information for a comedian (fool, jest) to get on stage and deliver witty relevant puns to an audience. The intelligence factor is in wisdom. ones relational efficacy, emotional IQ, and interpersonal skills is built upon Wisdom. Wisdom is not knowledge alone, it is the application of what you know.

1.

There are times to ask.

Think of times when you would "ask" for things as a child. Typically a child doesn't ask for things UNTIL THEY NEED THINGS. "I'm Hungry!" "I'm Tired!" "I NEED TO GO POTTY NOW!"

As a father, when my children were younger I had to grow a lot in patience as their impulses began to drive me from one reactionary response to the next. Understanding that they were growing in the ability to identify their needs prior to their bodies identifying it for them. Such as the story when a child pee's their pants to then only after the fact express to their parent they did so.

I tried my best as a dad to not scorn my kids, but be patient with them, making this a teachable moment, and help clean them up providing a fresh set of clothes.

The mark of growth and maturity for the developing child is in their ability to identify in advance their needs, and communicate or plan accordingly based on the situation. Such as the camping trip I recently took my family on to Winthrop Washington where there was roughly a 70-90 minute gap between the last rest area and the next. My youngest daughter of 13 well aware of road trips and bathroom break protocol asked for a rest stop when we next came across one.

Thankfully she asked well in advance knowing that it might be a little while to get her answer as it took nearly an additional hour until we finally found a trail head pull off with an open mountain top porta-poty. She had the simple wisdom to ask in advance, and then patiently wait for the supply to come knowing that the provision requested was on it's way.

How many of us ask for the wisdom and provision of God BEFORE it become URGENT? The Lord knows you're need even before you do, as a father see's the empty juice boxes and wiggling legs of their 5 year old and is able to identify the soon coming need of relief. If our earthly father see's the signs in us and is already thinking of when, where, and how that solution is going to come about, then we ought to have even more confidence in our Heavenly Father who is able and ready to meet every one of our needs.

If we don't ask, even though the Lord see's the oncoming need, He wont always pull over and force you to go "give it a try." Choosing to not communicate your needs, perhaps nap instead, the opportunity you didn’t know you needed slips passed and you are to endure to the next stop or have the awkward "pee in a bottle" or pull over on the side of the road experience.

Ask, and when you ask, do so in advance whenever possible.

Do not only ask when it's urgent, ask well before hand that you might have confidence that in your need God will provide. Knowing He has your needs on His mind and is providing for you the soonest available opportunity for break through.

Times to Seek

Seek, That means to pursue avenues of which knowledge can have the potential of becoming wisdom. "Hey I've been on this road before and I know of a great place to pull over in about 40 minutes. Trust me, it's worth the wait."

This is where the journeys you've been down, and the ones which others have shown you or talked about can lead you into confidence, peace, assurance, and even a greater experience than that of "Asking" alone.

You've sought it out ahead, made plans, checked reviews, asked of those who have done the trip before where the best pit stops and coffee shops are, and as a result of seeking you now get to enjoy and even greater reward without the cost of experiential knowledge alone, or relive the joy's of past discoveries but with a greater confidence and thrill now getting to share it with others.

Times to Knock

Knock Knock!

never know where an unexpected conversation could go, and what it might reveal.both about yourself and others...

"Is this place open?"

I've been on those roads too, where you show up somewhere but it appears that no one is home. Camping in Montana with my family a few days before opening weekend