Testing times and joy

This past weekend we presented yet another wonderful and blessed ‘Married Couples’ Weekend’ on a Game Farm not too far from Witbank. During the drive back home, the only thing on my mind was that NOTHING is impossible for God! I stand amazed at how uniquely God works with each of us; loving each and every one of us in a very special and individual way. I truly believe that no marriage is destined for failure; God intended marriage to be a wonderful thing – something that strengthens us and adds joy to our lives. When we experience difficulty in our marriages, I know that God will show us the way to work through these trying times and come out on the other side healthy and happy. On the Cross Christ made it possible for us to see things from His perspective and to live through His wisdom and allow Him to guide our steps (and words and actions).


The past two weeks have been fantastic in terms of my physical situation, I'm training a little bit more, and I have had no balance problems at all! Everything is on track for the 94.7 km Cycle race in November, and I have decided to do this one with my wife, something which she desired for a while now. I am really grateful for her and the boys and, and, and........, and it must be said, we all have so many reasons to be grateful, grateful to the highest extent! The Lord is also leading us in new ways in church as well, new ways in terms of ministry and serving people, and all I can say is that I am very excited about what He is doing! Our fervent prayer is to hear Him, see Him and experience Him, for it is written, that from Him, through Him, and to Him, are all things!

In the last two posts, I’ve been sharing on trying times, times that are difficult for us and all round tough times. These are special times of growth and strengthening of faith, these are times we all have to face from time to time. And the verses we looked at is James 1:2-4:


"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. (3) Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. (4) But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."


Just have a look at the following translation of verse 2: ““Count it all joy when you encounter various tests, contradicting your true identity, knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”


James says, that instead of wishing that the situation would go away, grab hold of it with joy and happiness. You see, we cannot simulate faith, it cannot be faked and we cannot generate it through certain thinking processes or through certain emotions. Rather, faith is a spiritual thing – it’s a gift from God. This spiritual gift is the answer to all out prayers – faith speaks of knowing and understanding exactly what it is that was completed in Christ – what was dealt with on the Cross and the result thereof for us. Actually, everything is about faith, real faith – Christ’s faith.

James goes on to say that this steadfastness of faith produces a few other characteristics which, by the way, should first be seen in terms of life in the Spirit and not material possessions. The word 'perfect', in the original language, indicates that every grace present in Christ should be manifested in the believer, also to be in complete possession of one's awarded portion. This is what God desires for you and me, to be in complete possession of what He has given us by the Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ – to walk in the Life of His choosing!

Read what Peter wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: 2Peter 1:3 "For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)."


“Therefore, count it all joy” → which is the word, ‘hēgeomai’, which acording to the Vines Greek dictionary means shepherd, which in turn indicates: to lead, that is – command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is – consider: account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.
In other words, to lead as a shepherd leads his sheep (as a figure of authority), protecting his sheep against predators and thieves and bring them to a place of peacefulness. What is the point? The Bible is saying that we should let "joy" take authority over our circumstances in the same way as a shepherd has authority over his sheep! This joy is not a forced smile, or pretending to be joyful because of what you heard someone once said (where you are in actual fact feeling sorry for yourself), it is because of an inner realization of Truth. This Truth is the greatest force in the face of difficult and contradicting circumstances!

Read what Jesus said in John 15:11 "I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing."

Joy then in simple terms, is the fruit of Him whom I know; of Jesus who lives in me. So when trouble comes, we look to Him and let joy take the lead and expect God to reveal more of Himself to us and in us; so that we can be transformed more and more into what He made us to be! Again a case of Him giving what He requires from us- He is so Good!


My prayer for you is that God may enlighten the eyes of your heart to see Him more clearly and to be, in reality, what He Handcrafted you to be, in this life, where you are, and with who you are, all the while making you more aware of His love for you!