Consider it

James 1:2 NIV: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”

This is a favorite quotable verse that deserves a deep dive, and that starts with our understanding of the word Joy. The most helpful definition I turn to is from the Greek word used in this verse: Chara. The root of Chara is grace (charis), and the word means to recognize or be aware of grace. In simple terms, joy is being aware of God showing you love and favor or God’s kindness and presence. 

It’s not unusual when things are falling into place, your kids succeeding in life, or your dreams are being realized to see God’s goodness and blessings. However, James is asking for something different. He wants us to “consider,” which in Greek is Hegeomai, which means to think about, be drawn to, or the leading thought. Considering something means we must stop and actively work on this task. It makes sense that it would take work to find God’s grace, as James states when we face trials. The Greek word for trials is Peiramos, meaning a test or temptation. More than that, the Greek word for “face” is Peripipto, which means to be totally surrounded by or something falling all around. 

This year, our family has encountered a few major crises. Most recently, my daughter re-injured her knee 7 months after an ACL reconstruction. Before we had the MRI to see if there was any damage, my daughter in one day had an out-of-the-blue text from a summer camp friend from across the country feeling prompted to pray and reach out, and an out-of-the-blue teacher, unaware of the injury, pull her aside because God had compelled her to reach out. The miraculous gestures immediately were an awareness of God’s kindness. I also knew at that moment, without any tests, that she indeed re-tore her ACL and would have to have surgery again.  Amid this trial, God bombarded her with grace. Those two reach-outs were him saying, “See… I am here; do not fear; I will be with you in this trauma.”

As I worked on this art piece, one more insight brought it all together. A few verses down, James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” The Greek word for wisdom, “Sophia,” has its root in the word for clarity. In other words, wisdom is insight gained from experience and “seeing” things clearly. You see, don’t you, what these verses are saying? In the middle of the most extreme circumstances, God is present with us in those sufferings. He actively seeks ways to bring comfort, grace, and kindness. When we purposefully look for and SEE Him doing this, it brings peace and assurance that we will get through it. That is JOY. But sometimes, we can’t see the grace. It feels muddled and dark and unsurvivable.  James says, then ask to see - Ask for “wisdom,” the lens to see where God is working. 

My art piece attempts to show these elements: trials, temptations, and seeing grace in the midst through the lens of wisdom.