Great Joy

What is our usual response when faced with difficult circumstances? Irritation? Anger? Frustration? Confusion? If you answered “yes” to any of that, then you're not alone! That is the reaction that is expected of a normal person. But people who have been bought with a price, those who are called according to His purpose, are expected to be different. They are expected to have Great Joy ...

Diamonds are known for their unparalleled beauty and their toughness. There are two factors that greatly affect the making of a diamond. Pressure. Cutting.

Diamonds are just another form of Carbon. Carbon, like in the form of a decaying tree, goes through a long process, involving enormous pressure. Some of it become coal. Others, various coal-related minerals. Only a portion of it endure great pressure and transform into a diamond.

Diamonds in their raw form are not as valuable compared to the properly cut and polished form. A raw diamond needs to be cut and shaped at the hands of a master craftsman to attain its most beautiful form.

The end result of all that pressure and cutting is a beautiful diamond!

Similar to how a diamond is formed, God is forming us into beautiful ornaments for His glory. Based on the amount of pressure and pain that we can successfully endure, without losing our faith, we attain various levels of perfection in our spirit. Keeping the end result in mind, makes it much more easy to go through the pressure and pain.

James 1:2-4 (NIV): Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you maybe mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Testing of our faith. When our faith is tested through some trying circumstance, what comes out of our mouth? Praise for God? Or, is it a confused prayer, “God are you there? Why's this happening to me?” Apostle James exhorts us, to react in a different way. To consider it all as pure joy. For at the end, we would have developed perseverance. A stronger faith. Spiritual muscles. A perfect, spiritual figure.

But how do we recognize the testing of our faith and come out with the right reaction of pure joy? The key is in the very next verse. We need the wisdom of God.

James 1:5 (NIV): If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

With the wisdom of God, we will be able to rightly judge what we're going through, and put on the right attitude.

Note that this is NOT an encouragement to have a “grin-and-bear-your-burden” attitude! This is an encouragement to be active. To consciously put on an attitude of pure joy, of “rain-or-sunshine-I'll-praise-you-Lord”! For You have plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

It is not all as easy as it sounds! Without the wisdom of God, without His Spirit in us, overcoming the “natural” reaction is tough. But with Him all things are possible.

Once the attitude of great joy is put on, then how do we sustain it, when the circumstance seems to be never-ending? Stop fretting. Be still before Him. Wait patiently for Him. Allow Him to work. He will make a way, where there seems to be none. After all, He is the one who made invisible paths for all the planets and the stars in the sky. Not one of them accidentally bump into each other. If He can do that, He can surely make a way for us!

Psalms 37:5-8 (NIV): Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.

Want to be a diamond some day? Want to be a thing of beauty in His kingdom, warming His heart always? Have great joy, inspite of trying circumstances!