Counting Them Happy
"Take ... the ... prophets for an example of suffering
affliction, and of patience ... we count them happy which
endure," Ja. 5 10-11.
Satan has used this passage to rob us of a victorious life. Any
happiness you see is likely just a cover.
It is often thought we're to patiently endure whatever horrible
things that come our way, to be victims of our circumstance. The
only blessings we expect to see are in the life to come.
Occasionally, I've heard well intended Christians say, "We're
never going to get through the trials of this life until we get
to Heaven."
I have this urge to respond, "Don't say that! IT ISN'T TRUE!"
But, I also understand that they wouldn't say it except they
don't know.
The prophets weren't victims. They suffered more because they
went through all the issues of the inner man so they could come
back and teach the people how to overcome. And, they did so
holding on to the promises of God!
You can bet that, in each victorious adventure taken, the
prophets were happy when all was said and done - in awe of what
God had done for them. They believed God when He said we could
be overcomers ... not only in the next life, but in this life,
too. And, they weren't disappointed.
The prophets suffered and endured (stayed the course), not
because they liked it but, because they liked the end result.
The end result is where they found happiness.