Count it all Joy: Overcoming Drama and Trauma
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1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
As we continue to explore the Biblical promises; we often the neglect the need for biblical joy. Not world joy but biblical joy.
I remember a song, written by LINDA RANDLE and song by SHIRLEY CAESAR “ This joy I have the world did not give it me! The world did not give the world cannot take it away”
I imagine as this song was written and song the both Linda and Pastor Shirley Caesar could not help to think about moment in their lives when disappointments, drama, and trauma occured.
I we live long enough on this earth will all will experience out share of disappointments, drama, and trauma.
I thank God for give us a prescription and medicine that can soothe the pain the and give us much needed relief from disappointments, drama, and trauma.
Disappointment are sadness and displeasure caused non fulfillment of one hopes or expectations.
Imagine the disappointment Abraham and Sarah experience they waited for the child that God promised them. Abraham was 75 year when was given the promise and 100 years old when Issac the promise child was born.
Drama is a series of events that involves emotional, spiritual, and natural conflicts.
Imagine the drama that David face when his leader King Saul ; that one that should have been there for him, chased after him for ten years trying to kill him and denying him of the things God promised him.
Trauma- a deeply distressful, frightening, or disturbing experiences that come form loss
Imagine Job -losing his all his children in a tragic storm, losing his finances, prestige, and health.
Today world is full of disappointment, drama and trauma.
Many lives loss and by murder, disease, and war. (Ukraine, Gaza)
Abuse of all forms verbal, physical, and sexual is on the increase today ( school shooting, sex traffics, and drug abuse) In March 2020 America has declared a national emergency on drug. Each of us may know a family member or love one that is effected by this.
remember a story in New York where someone was using a childcare to store fetynol.
A 22 month old Nicholas Dominici died as result of going into an area were residue of the got into his system.
Child & elderly neglect— Tess and I are licensed foster parent. We get notices almost daily of the need for some to care for abused or neglected children. As a ministry we plan to build an outreach children and elderly.
James 1:1-4 is the prescription for overcoming the trails of life.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Joy dispels gloom and stirs up cheer.
Joy shifts our focus and moves us to become mature.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote around AD 52. it was a time the the Christian in Jerusalem were being persecuted so much that many of them had to be disperse throughout various regions.
James became a believer after Jesus was resurrected. While Jesus was on this James and many others in Jesus hometown was skeptical of Jesus.
In 1 Cor 15:7 James was one of the many people that saw Jesus after the rescurection. This may have gave James the revelation that no matter what we go on this earth do not let it take away the joy we have been give by the Holy Ghost
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
Joy is the one of the fruit of the Spirit. It is listed after love in Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The is no natural law (force)on this earth that can supersede the Sprit of JOY.
Just as the law of lift supersedes gravity the spirit of JOY supersede disappointments, drama and trauma.
Joy gives us a merry heart- Prov 17:22
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Returning to joy is essential to enduring and maturing.
We must go from Infant to maturity in our Christian, We must decide, yield, obey, and cooperate with God’s spirit and guidance to overcome on this earth.
To count it all joy we must go from being babies in Christ to being mature.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Infant Stage-
As a infant we do not know how to take care of ourselves. We leave it other as we figure our what is wrong with us. Baby, cry whimper, or wine. Others must figure out what wrong with. Is it a messy disaper, do they need food, are they teething?...
Grown person whinning; thinking other should what is wrong. I counsel married couple that assumed that the other should know what is wrong with them.
Child Level Maturity—
Take care themselves only - What in in for stage— Mine, Mine , Mine..
I seen adult thinking that everything is bout them. Bring me my coffee, fix me my food, do this or that for me … without considering thanking and considering the relationship with others.
3. Adult-level Maturity
“Adults know how to keep relationships bigger than problem, act like themselves in a group, and take care of the needs of two people at the same time.”
4. Parent-level Maturity
5. Elder-level Maturity “…empty nesters who have raised their own families and have the life experience and relational skills to mentor a younger generation.”
To be come mature we much Returning to Joy.
The quicker someone can return to joy the more mature they become.
I read a book by Dale Carnigie that states“Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent.” -
Practice reading and meditating on God Word— Joshua 1:8
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Practice praying ,listening, and have thanksgiving Ph to God daily. Phil 4:6
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Practice thinking on things that line up with WORD of GOD Phil 4:7-8
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Practice seeing things in the future work out for you good.
The enemy may me thing for you harm but God will work for your good as you continue to love and trust Him. Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
As we go through painful experiences remember God’s joy is medicine that help us to endure. Because the joy of the LORD is strength. Neh 8:10
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Jesus is our example
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Receive Christ and receive his joy today. Repeat after me LORD, I receive