Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist

James 1:2-8 (NRSV)

2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Reflection:
I have great difficulty doing things I do not want to do. “Well duh,” every reader is presently thinking to themselves. “That is the very definition of not wanting to do something… struggling to find motivation because what is required of them is undesirable.” However, I feel it is reasonable for me to make such a sweeping statement because I actually like doing most things. Spinning a situation into something positive is sort of my specialty. As my siblings have comically observed, “Birds and squirrels must fly into Rachel’s window when the sun rises because only a Disney princess consistently has this cheery of a disposition!”

And yet…my joy is not always genuine. By definition, joy is recognizing God’s grace beyond present pressures. Despite knowing this, I constantly combat the urge to stubbornly reject and dismiss unfavorable scenarios. Far too often, I attempt to logic my way out of accountability, exempting myself due to external circumstances, not personal choices:

“I was not being mean, I just blared my horn at the driver causing the traffic – they deserved it!”

“It is not my fault I was short with the cashier. Clearly, the customer checking out before me had too many items to be in the express lane.”

“Why am I being reprimanded for speaking harshly when they will always try to undermine me? I am simply sticking up for myself!”

Unsparingly, I am never served the gratification I hope to receive. Yes, there might be a moment of sweet satisfaction…but it is always fleeting. Usually, I feel worse than I did beforehand because I feel like I should be better than this.

Spiraling down a path of self-shame, I inevitably ask myself the ever-infuriating question: “Why do I actively choose the wrong decision when I know what is right?”

We know that Christ calls us to spread his love across the Earth, regardless of whatever scenario is unfolding before us. So what prevents us from simply executing this creed, particularly when we are explicitly told it will bring us joy?

Proverbs 1:20-23 describes such a stance, explaining the inner workings of Christ’s wisdom:

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
 she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall she cries out,
 at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
 How long will mockers delight in mockery
 and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
 Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
 I will make known to you my teachings.

Living in a broken world, the daily woes we face are ever-changing and always present. Thankfully, our Lord equips us with all we need to achieve joy: freely given and always accessible wisdom.

It is not the factors of our reality that determine our ability to find joy in all we do and whom we encounter; remember, those are fleeting. In relying on our hubris and need for control, we can become our own worst enemy. Slip-ups and failures are guaranteed, therefore doubt is the only path ahead when we attempt to command our own realities. Solely through our unwavering commitment to obeying God’s voice—empowering us to face any challenge with faithful endurance—do we overcome unfavorable circumstances. By faith, the Lord’s generosity of wisdom ultimately turns even the most loathsome states into nothing but joy.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me for my joy-snatching ways. Open my heart to see the life that comes from releasing my own, selfish notions of joy. Make me a servant of your enduring love, following only your wisdom in all that I do. Amen.