“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”  James 1:2 ESV

For many people, starting off a new year with a fresh list of goals and aspirations has become the standard for celebrating this turn of the calendar page. 

But for others, the page comes and goes in a blur of burdens we’d rather not bear—a difficult diagnosis or health condition, loss of a loved one and the grief that accompanies it, and financial struggles just to name a few. Holding ourselves together under such weight requires all the energy we can muster. There’s just nothing left for those goals and aspirations others are so optimistically embracing.

Do we find consolation in Jesus’ words recorded in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”?

Does viewing it through the lens of James 1:2, which tells us we have the authority and ability through the Holy Spirit at work within us, to count it all joy?

As we commit to those lofty New Year’s resolution, we would do well to consider those words. Even the best plans and most craftily created schedules for bringing them to fruition are at the mercy of our Sovereign God. We’re told in the book of James that we don’t know what tomorrow will bring (see James 4:13-17). 

So far it sounds like I’m raining gloom and despair on your New Year’s Parade but stay with me just a bit longer.

The Hope

The word count in the opening verse has nothing to do with math (can I get an Amen!). It means to think and to have rule over. When we look at our goals for the year, we will find our greatest success and ultimate joy when we first consider, count, or think about the reality that we don’t have sovereign control over this broken world or what happens in our lives. We have the words of Jesus to warn us that in this world we will have tribulation (see John 16:33). Our dreams for the coming year will face opposition.

This quote from a first responder should bring us encouragement. Asked how he reacted when faced with real trouble, he answered, “When crisis hits, you don’t rise to your aspirations. You fall to the level of your preparation.”

When trials and tribulations come crashing into our carefully plans, we’ll count or consider it a joy when we have prepared our hearts with truth ahead of time.

How do we do this? I suggest we surrender our resolutions, hopes, dreams, goals—everything we plan to accomplish—to God.

Surrender

Count can also mean to rule over. When we’re surrendered to God, the Holy Spirit empowers us rule over our perspective about the situation. In other words, he enables us to count it all joy when things don’t go as we had planned.

Fact . . . we will meet trials in the coming year. Trials that could put an end to those worthy goals we’ve set. Some of us may be faced with a crisis we never see coming. Others of us may find the path ahead littered with obstacles that slow our progress or redirect our steps. 

Being able to experience joy instead of defeat (and self-loathing?) when a goal I have goes by the wayside is truthfully the goal that matters most.

If we prepare ourselves by considering, counting, ruling over our attitude toward those trials, then even when those New Year’s resolutions don’t turn out the way we planned, we can still declare 2025 was a year of victory.

Have you surrendered your goals to God (as in let go of with not even a tiny little pinkie still hooked on the edge!)?

How should knowing that we fall to our level of preparation influence our priorities for the year ahead?

How will you fare when the storms hit in 2025? Check out Count, by Lori Altebaumer. Share on X