Count It All Joy

“We all go through trials that force us to rely on God in new ways, that grow our faith in ways it wouldn’t grow without going through the situation.”

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:2

A few years ago, I was pregnant, not super far along, but already starting to have a lot of health issues. All which led to pre-eclampsia by 34 weeks. It was clear that I was going to have an early baby (any Bluey fans saying that in Indie’s voice?). The need to deliver my early baby quickly led to a c-section. My three pound, eleven ounce, bundle of pure love ended up in the NICU and I didn’t see her for the first 24 hours of her life. 

I spent those days in the hospital crying out to God, even to the point of praying over and worshiping during a pumping session because I couldn’t get my milk flowing for my tiny baby that needed to be fed. I asked for prayer from friends and family that I had never asked for prayer from. I relied on God in a way that I never had before.

We all go through trials that force us to rely on God in new ways, that grow our faith in ways it wouldn’t grow without going through the situation. 

We may face health issues, physically and mentally, or struggles with infertility. We may be trying to work through the loss of loved ones. The trials we face are sometimes just the everyday mom stuff, another load of laundry, another trip to the grocery store, another school drop off, another dirty diaper. 

In the midst of these trials, even in the saddest and most heartbreaking situations, we can receive the joy that the Holy Spirit gives us, knowing that the faith we’ll receive through our trials will grow us closer to God. That’s how biblical joy works. We may not feel happy, of course we don’t want to go through difficult seasons, but joy will be there when we allow Jesus to lead us through these trials.

My difficult pregnancy and delivery helped me reach a level of faith that I wouldn’t have gotten to without going through it. I came out on the other side, after a NICU stay that was much shorter than anticipated, and, several months later, a freezer full of extra milk, and now a happy, healthy 2-year-old, and I can look back and see all that God has done. The faith that came with seeing the other side is so valuable to my life, to my continual reliance on God. 

I know it’s hard when you’re in the midst of something difficult, but count it all joy, mama. You get to rely on your God, who is bigger than everything you face. 

Action Steps:

• If you’re going through a trial now, are you crying out to God for help? Are you relying on Him, allowing Him to fill you with His joy? If you’ve gone through something in the past, did you rely on Him? How was your faith tested, and how did it affect your faith in Him?

• Read Psalm 23 - Write it down, memorize it, put it somewhere you can read it when you need it. 

Written by Cathrine, mom of 4

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