Count! I learned to do that at school. One, two, three, four, five, and so on. Or, two and two make four. Or, three times three is nine. Or, six minus three is three. I am glad I have not forgotten.
My text says, “count it all joy.” Count what? Why temptations, trials, hard places, misunderstandings, persecutions, and all the things that sorely press.
I am tempted, it seems, beyond measure. What shall I do? Count it all joy. Well, I feel better. I have been misunderstood. What am I to do? Why count it all joy. Well, the honey is dripping down my soul.
I have a terrible trial. It does not seem as though I can live under it. O, what must I do?
Do—why count it all joy. Well, bless His holy name! That’s right. What peace I have in my heart. What joy! What ecstasy!
You say this is easy to write, but harder to do. True. But God has not deceived us, and if we follow His divine instructions, He will do what He has promised.
Learn to count in God’s way. The teacher, the professor, the college president may not know this secret, but the humblest Christian may learn it and utilize it, to the glory of God.
Let’s learn to count!
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6, 76Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:6‑7)).