“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (Jas. 1:2 KJV).
When you are full of the Word of God, JOY will start bubbling up. Then in the midst of your trial, you’ll begin to remember how good God has been to you. Here’s a personal example:
“Lord, I remember the first church building we acquired. It looked like all the tea in China was required for that. You came through with a miracle. Then I remember the second building, because we outgrew the first one. That thing was three times the size of the other one, yet You still put us in there on time and on budget.
“Then I remember the next one that was millions of dollars, and it was on the wrong side of town, some folks said. It was far away from the general congregation and they said we were going to lose members and money.
“Yet Father, you got us the deal. You sent the people and you kept sending the finances and we grew out of that one. Then, God, You sent us somewhere and told us to talk to a pastor and tell him that this is our building and he’s got to move. Lord, I did what you said, and you provided. Then you said, now I’m going to give you 110 acres of land and give you $24 million to do it.”
Well, as you continue to think about victory, joy rises up. After a while you start laughing, and the devil says “You aren’t going to get it this time. It’s not going to work this time.”
You say, “That’s what you said last time. You said we weren’t going to get it to begin with. Now we got it. Now you’re saying we’re not going to get the money. Which way is it? You said we wouldn’t have the building, but we still got it. You said we wouldn’t be able to pay for it, but we’re paying for it. Which way is it devil? Shut up!”
When you labor to enter into God’s rest, you’ll find that there’s joy in the middle of that rest. There’s dancing in the middle of that rest. There’s shouting in the middle of that rest.
And sometimes it’s just laying back and being cool about it. You have God’s word on it that it will be all right. And in that you can have joy and rest.
Scripture References: Hebrews 4:11-16; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).