Count It All Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. —James 1:2, 3, NIV

For my entire life I have believed the lie that it is important to stay busy, and have viewed rest as laziness. I believed the lie that rest is weakness, but last week I experienced a torn ligament in my foot. I looked at the doctor in complete frustration because this was the third injury to my right foot in five months. I knew the treatment: the splint, the ice, elevation, and the forced rest. God physically sat me down to rest.

When life slows down, especially due to something unexpected like a ligament injury, it can feel frustrating, especially if you are someone who loves to move and stay active. Suddenly the pace you are used to is replaced by stillness, and you are faced with the challenge of waiting. Yet it is often in these very moments that God performs some of His deepest work in us. Rest and recovery may feel like limitations, but they are also opportunities for growth. Through this pause God can teach us valuable lessons in patience and endurance.

These qualities are not easy to develop when life is always moving quickly, but they are essential for spiritual maturity. As much as we resist waiting, there is something profound about surrendering to God’s timing and trusting that He knows what is best for us, even when we cannot see it. If you are nursing an injury right now or struggling with something else, it may just be a reminder that not everything is within your control.

But it is also a wonderful opportunity to rest in the knowledge that God is in control. Paul tells us that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3, 4, NIV). In your waiting, God is shaping your character, making you stronger on the inside as you heal on the outside. Your roots are growing.

This season of rest, though not easy, is a time for reflection, prayer, and learning to fully lean on God. Trust that He is preparing you for what is coming next and that, in His perfect time, you will be able to move forward stronger and more grounded in faith than ever before. Though we may not see it at the time, God is fitting all the pieces together for our good and the good of everyone involved—so we can trust Him and count it all joy!

Raquel Queiroz da Costa Arrais