3 Ways to Count It All Joy

How is it that, in the midst of great suffering, there are people who still rejoice? How, in the wake of great loss, are there those who continue to have hope? These are valid questions, questions that many have asked but likely few have found answers. The answer is simple: we must count it all joy. But what does that mean?

One of the most impactful passages in the Bible I have ever read is in Acts 5. Peter and the other apostles are working on fulfilling Christ’s call to them from the Great Commission, and naturally they encounter some resistance. In the midst of spreading the gospel, performing miracles, and adding thousands of people to the Kingdom of God, the Sanhedrin bring persecution against the apostles.

They were arrested and nearly put to death, if not for one wise Pharisee who spoke against killing them. Instead, the apostles were flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus again.

As they left the Sanhedrin after being ridiculed, beaten, and put to shame, their reactions were incredible: they rejoiced.

Sure, it’s easy to say, “Those are the apostles, the disciples of Jesus, the founders of the Church. Of course they would react that way!” But the truth of the matter is, we should all react this way. Jesus made it clear during his time on earth that those who follow him will suffer. Pain is an inevitable part of life, and if we walk through it without joy, the suffering will most definitely overtake us.

This is why it’s important to learn how to count it all joy. Doing this doesn’t mean we don’t grieve or take time to feel all of our valid emotions. It simply means we don’t dwell on them. Feel it, process it, and then turn your attention to what the Lord is teaching you. Focus on the fact that, in Him, all things are joy because all things are for His glory.

All of this is much easier said than done, of course. To make the “doing” a bit easier, here are three ways that you can start considering all things joy, even when you think your situation is hopeless!

1. Remember that suffering builds faith.

If you want to count it all joy, you must recognize why we face trials. As difficult as it can be in the moment, it’s important for us to remember that our pain does have purpose. Suffering is one of the primary ways that God builds our faith. This might seem harsh at first, but if you take a moment to understand who God is and what He wants for us, it makes perfect sense.

It is so easy to trust when life is good. In those mountaintop seasons, it’s easy to think, “yeah, God must be taking care of me.” Or maybe you go the other way and think your don’t need God because you have everything under control. Regardless, you can’t build great faith by simply cruising through life. All things that are meant to endure must be tested, and faith is intended to last eternity.

One of the best illustrations for this in the Bible is in the book of Job. Job was highly favored by God and known for his great faith. He had everything a man could possibly want at that time—a big family, lots of land, livestock, goods, and riches. It seemed as though he was untouchable by loss and difficulty. Satan used this to bring Job’s faith into question. He pleaded with God to let him bring difficulty into Job’s life to see if his faith was as great as it appeared. And God allowed it.

You see, God didn’t give Satan this permission because he no longer loved Job; in fact, it was quite the opposite. He loved Job enough to allow his faith to be tested beyond doubt. If Satan could question Job’s faith, who’s to say others (maybe even Job himself) wouldn’t? God allowed Job’s faith to be tested and proven, which not only made Job stronger, but it served as a testimony to all those around him.

I like to think of this testing like a new medicine. Would you trust your life with something that had yet to be proven as effective? Without proper trials, there’s no way to know if new pharmaceuticals are going to save your life or destroy it. Faith is the exact same. Your faith can’t be trusted to save you if it isn’t tested and proven.

When I look at my life experiences so far, I see many trials (along with many mountaintops). The deaths of my parents, a lack of safety at home, deep insecurities, and others. While I didn’t always feel this way, I can honestly say now that I wouldn’t go back and change anything. Those moments have built a faith in me that I wouldn’t trade for the world, and for that I am thankful.

2. Relinquish your own plans.

I think an overlooked struggle when trying to count it all joy is the fact that usually when we’re suffering, it’s from something that “didn’t go to plan.” Whether that be a lost job, failed relationship, missed opportunity, death of a loved one, or anything else that might cause pain—it’s rare that any of these things are ever part of our plan.

Speaking from my own personal experience, it’s easy to get worked up over the plan you create. You think your life is going to look a certain way, and when something happens that derails part or all of that picture in your mind, it can be difficult not to remain upset about it. That, understandably, can make joy seem far-fetched at best.

The simple (yet agonizingly difficult) solution is to let go of your plan. Life will never go exactly as we want it to, and that truth gets a whole lot easier to accept when we let go of our wants and start understanding the perfection of God’s plan. When we lean into what He has in store for us, every bump in the road on the way there will suddenly start to serve a purpose.

When I look at all the bumps I’ve faced so far, I can honestly say that God used them for good. And though every trial drastically changed the vision I had for my life, I can see more and more with every step I take to heal that those changes have pushed me towards the life God has for me.

I know it can be a fearful moment to release control. But the moment you are able to let go of what you think God should be doing for you (or what He should not have done/allowed), and start trusting that His ways are so much greater than your own, is the moment when counting it all joy will become a much easier task.

3. Remain thankful.

I can’t say enough about the impacts of thankfulness. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally—gratitude has drastic positive impacts of every aspect of life. There is actually scientific evidence proving the positive impacts of gratitude on the human brain. With that in mind, in only makes since that a posture of thanksgiving could work wonders for someone in a season of suffering!

Remember, faith and righteousness are built up through pain and suffering. We create a firm foundation that can’t be shaken when our faith has endured through testing. We need this foundation for a reason—without it, we will be shaken.

Hebrews 12:26-27 tells us of the day when Christ will return, shaking the heavens and the earth to ensure that the only thing remaining is what cannot be shaken. But it’s the verses right after this that I want you to focus on right now:

You see, sometimes we look at our present circumstances and can’t imagine how we could be thankful. We can get bogged down in the pain and despair, and it becomes difficult to focus on anything else. Lord knows I’ve been there! But that makes thankfulness all the more important.

We have such great things to look forward to—God is literally going to share His glory with us! That alone is enough for us to be eternally grateful, and should make it easier to count it all joy. But God doesn’t stop His goodness there. He not only promises that we will receive glory, but He ensures that we will be ready for it.

It is through the testing, trials, and pain that we are made strong. It is through our loss and grief that our foundation is made firm. When we are strong and our foundation firm, we cannot be shaken. And when we cannot be shaken, we are guaranteed to receive all that God has promised.

So be thankful! It should bring you peace and hope to know that the eternal glory you are being strengthened for is worth every moment of suffering. Continue reminding yourself how great it is to serve a God who wants you to be prepared to receive that glory!

In closing, I want to share a poem the Lord laid on my heart during my prayer time one day. I was struggling to count it all joy, and He spoke to me through this. I have found that writing poetry has been a way for me to connect with God in a new way, sharing my feelings with Him and letting Him minister to me almost simultaneously. While I don’t claim to be a great poet, it is something I have come to enjoy, and I hope this poem speaks to you in some way.

To Count It All Joy

What is it, to count it all joy?
Is it simply to endure with a smile?
Surely not, when a smile is so easily faked.
Perhaps it’s to respond always with laughter?
But no, not when laughter too often falls short of the soul.
To count it all joy is more than a physical act.
It is the laying down of one’s life as an altar—
When all that matters is to honor and glorify
The Creator of joy;
When every would reflects those He bore;
When every scar is a story of His goodness—
That is when you count it all joy.
Joy to serve Him,
Because He gave you breath.
Joy to fight for Him,
Because He is your great witness.
Joy to hurt in His name,
Because He bore all eternal wrath for you.
Joy, even, to lose what He has given—
What He has called good.
Because even in the taking,
He is good.
He is worthy.
He is faithful.
He is just.
So what is it, to count it all joy?
It is to love Him more—
More than your own comfort,
Your own hope,
Your own peace.
It is to trust that the depths of despair will become
A sanctuary,
If only you will invite Him in.

~EH