When my sweet cousin, Patti Ann Brower Hatcher, was suddenly called
home, these lyrics to a hymn she was learning to play on the piano, expressed
her faith so beautifully…
I count it all joy
Every moment in Your presence, Lord
I count it all joy
Since my journey with You
Through life’s tears and its smiles
Through life’s tests and its trials
I count it all joy—I count it all joy!
Every moment in Your presence, Lord
I count it all joy
Since my journey with You
Through life’s tears and its smiles
Through life’s tests and its trials
I count it all joy—I count it all joy!
Every one of her family and friends miss her, and her contagious joy,
so much. She was an inspiration to us all. Our hope, our joy, is in looking
forward to that day when our faith will become sight, and we will be with her
again in Heaven, with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.—James 1:2 ESV
Greek-American Bible scholar, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, explains that the Greek
word for “count” in this verse should be translated, “’think forward, consider,
regard.’ As you live in the present, consider the future, think forward to the
future.”
That was the phrase that got me, “think forward to the future” …
learning to look at our situation from God’s perspective, just like Jesus…
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God—Hebrews 12:2 NASB
I was greatly encouraged by this story about missionary Andrew Murray,
who, in 1895, was suffering with terrible back pain from a previous injury. One
morning while eating breakfast in his room, his hostess told him of a woman
downstairs who was in great trouble and wanted to know if he had any advice for
her. Andrew Murray handed her a paper he had been writing on and said, “Give
her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it
helpful.” This is what was written:
In time of trouble, say, “First, God brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to bestow.” And last, say, “In His good time He can bring me out again. How and when, He knows.” Therefore, say, “I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, and (4) for His time.”
Take a moment to listen to this beautiful version of “Count It All Joy”
by Shannon Wexelberg.
How about you, does this encourage you to think forward to the future? Please feel free to leave your comments in the box below,
I’d love to hear from you.
Linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart as an encourager.
