We are to confront our challenges with joy!
We all have trials and how we deal with them determines the final results. Without the proper approach, the problem will constantly bind us in fear
James recorded by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
In other Words, 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 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
FATHER is inviting us into freedom. We are to profit from our trials. It’s not mind over matter freedom nor is it hype. It’s not to psych yourself up. The substance of liberty is at the end of this verse: patience will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
The end result of “count it all joy” is that you are perfect, complete, lacking nothing. The implication is that if I don’t count it joy when I face certain trials, I am incomplete, immature, and I will always be lacking.
How do you extract the nutrients or benefits from a trial? There are a lot of people who are in all sorts of trials, and they are not becoming more like Jesus. When you can give thanks in the midst of a trial, you have just tapped into how to extract out of that which the enemy designed to destroy you, and THE LORD reverses the effect so that it actually becomes the thing that sets you up with maturity, stability, and complete total provision.
Because THE LORD can see the end from the beginning, HE can come to you and minister joy at the beginning of your trial, knowing that in the end, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. You start choosing joy and start offering thanks in the midst of trial. In doing this, you are going to cause the effect of that thing that was designed to destroy to be the very thing that promotes you into completeness, maturity, strength, and provision!
There is provision in the trial. It isn’t just to help you endure. Yes, endurance is important, he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13).
In this particular case, there is an invitation for triumph and an invitation for open vindication. What is meant to take you out and cause you to lack is actually your point of access for personal gain and abundance in all areas of your life.
That problem that is so intimidating to you is actually breakfast. Consider what Joshua and Caleb said by The Holy Spirit in Numbers chapter 14:
6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;
7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
8 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’
9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”
An expression of faith comes from two guys that have refused to live in fear. As far as they were concerned, the inhabitants of Canaan were toast! They saw the giants that terrified a nation, they saw them as breakfast. Bread nourishes.
A lot of people are spiritually fasting, they are not devouring the enemy. We are to confront our trials head on with great joy knowing that THE LORD has set us up to utterly overcome and destroy the enemy.
Embrace your challenge! If you are seeing through THE LORD’S Eyes, you will see with His promise. He gives promises because He sees differently than we do. This is why He called it The Promised Land. If you don’t know HIS promises for a situation, you cannot properly embrace your challenge.
The destiny of every believer is to live in a liberated place of promise.