How Can You Count it All Joy?

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What Does James 1:2-4 Mean?

May 13, 2026

"Count it all joy when you face trials," you've probably heard James 1:2 before. However, if we're being honest, it sounds offensive. Maybe even cruel. When life is falling apart, the last thing most of us want is a command to be joyful about it. Our instinct is to escape, to find someone or something that will rescue us from the pain as fast as possible.

But what if that instinct — that desperate need to avoid suffering at all cost — is actually leading us somewhere dangerous? What if James, Peter, Paul, and even Job are all pointing to something we're not sure we really want? Wes and Marcus dig into James 1:2-4 and a surprising thread through Scripture: that suffering isn't just something God permits — it may be exactly what you need to become who you're meant to be.