Joy in this Economy?

March 25th, 2009

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

I don’t know about you, but when I pick up the paper or turn on the news and hear the depressing talk about our current economic situation my first instinct is not to jump for joy. This economy is unlike anything I have ever experienced and it is easy to live in a constant state of frustration and exhaustion as we see the way so many lives have been adversely affected. Yet here in the book of James we are told to “consider it all joy when you encounter various trials!” How can the Bible be so insensitive to the pain and loss people are experiencing? How can we find joy in the midst of this trial?

Here is a thought: Perhaps this current situation in our nation is perfectly in line with the will of God. Perhaps we are supposed to take a step back and re-examine our priorities. Perhaps there are truly more important things in life than material loss or gain.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Maybe, just maybe, God is using this difficult situation to remind us of our need for Him. After all, when things are going great and the money is pouring in it is very difficult for us to fully acknowledge our need for God. Several weeks ago I heard a great quote from an influential pastor. He said, “when you pray about a problem, God does not always change the situation because the situation was intended to change your perspective.”

Has your perspective changed due to this economy? Have you found yourself drawing closer to God because you are more aware of your need for Him? Have you gotten to a place where you realize there just might be things more important in life than your stuff?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions than perhaps you can agree with James and “consider it all joy”, because God is bringing you closer to Him and allowing you to see that only through Christ can you truly be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing!”

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