Count it all Joy my brethren.
was sent to the Isle of Patmos all alone. But in the Lord’s Day, he was in the Spirit. He not only heard the voice of Jesus, but also saw the glorified God in the vision. Let us walk by faith when we fall into different trials. The body of Christ goes through various problems and trials. It is vital to consider certain things while we live in this wilderness. Bible says; Count it all joy when ye fall into different temptations. You may ask, “is this practical? “ How can we be joyful in all our trials? It is easy to pretend to be joyous but hard to be joyful. Bible does not ask us to pretend being Joyous but to be joyful. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit and only God can give you joy in the times of trials. We can stay joyful when we stay in Spirit. No branch can bear the fruit of joy until and unless it abides in the true vine. In times of trouble, it is better to abide in God than to be gripped up with fear. The constant communion with God is very important while we go through the valleys. These are simple truths which we forget to follow in times of trials. God knows our faith and He doesn’t need to test us to know us. He tests us so that we know where we stand. There is genuine faith and counterfeit faith. Genuine faith is precious in the sight of God and is like gold. Counterfeit faith is not gold, but is coated with gold. It looks like gold but when it is put in fire, you will not see it anymore. Genuine gold will come out purified with better shining.
It is for our good– Apostle James says that, know this that the trying of our faith works patience and we have to allow patience to do her perfect work. Another meaning of patience is lack of complaint. Many Israelites died in the wilderness because they complained and grumbled against God and his servant. Their complain on each and everything shows that they lacked patience. Since they lacked patience, they could not wait for God. So, they ended up doing lots of things which were against the will of God. It is during our trial days when we trust more on God and learn the statutes of God through our affliction. When our character puts on patience, it makes us perfect. In other words, we grow matured in the knowledge of Christ, whole and wanting nothing. Genuine gold is not destroyed but is purified in the fire. Our true faith is also like the genuine gold. It gives us joy when we reckon that God has put me in the test to bless me and not to destroy me. God purges his children so that they bear much fruit and be holy like He is holy.