This is the ninth entry in my series on the word “let” in the Bible.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And LET steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Such a familiar scripture to many of us! Most of us read the first part and are immediately faced with a leap of faith that the verse calls us to. The call to “count it all joy” can be jolting, and many of us, having done the work of “counting it all joy,” stop there. But that’s just Part One.

Part Two is the second half of that verse, which just might be more powerful. We’re not called to count it joy for no reason. Of course, there are many good reasons to “count it joy,” Romans 8:28 being just one (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good….”).

But counting it all joy actually produces something in us that’s longer lasting than immediate relief. The ESV calls it “steadfastness,” while many of us know the word “patience” here. Either way, counting it all joy in times of trials is working something of eternal value in us. Of course, it’s a much better witness to others if we don’t cave and fall into complaining in front of others, and it’s more joyful to live in joy than resentment and petulance. These are reasons enough to count it all joy.

Yet there is so much more. There is a “full effect” awaiting us as we stand in that joy. But the good news is that the work isn’t all on us—and that’s where many of us “drop the spiritual ball” over time. In v. 4, we’re encouraged (or more accurately, instructed) to “let” that steadfastness lock into place and continue to have its long-range effect. The origin of that steadfastness that we are supposed to “let… have its full effect” is found in the Lord. If we are abiding in Him, and TBH, even if we’re not, we can draw directly upon his patience/steadfastness/resoluteness, which is all-sufficient and will never, ever run out. God’s goal here is for our blessing—in the short term so that we don’t live in fear or anger or frustration. But He is also looking to tomorrow, next year, and eternity, making us stronger and more mature spiritually, moving ever closer to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18).

So the question is, Will we “let,” or allow, the steadfastness/patience of the Lord work in us all that God intends? Will we connect with Him so closely that these characteristics of our God will become ours as well, and begin to flow through us? Will we continue to stay connected to Him when we’re tempted to move back into fleshly reaction? The steadfastness of the Lord is a treasure trove in times of difficulty, and it’s available to us as we abide in Him. Once we connect with it, we are privileged to “let” it do its wondrous

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And LET steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Such a familiar scripture to many of us! Most of us read the first part and are immediately faced with a leap of faith that the verse calls us to. The call to “count it all joy” can be jolting, and many of us, having done the work of “counting it all joy,” stop there. But that’s just Part One.

Part Two is the second half of that verse, which just might be more powerful. We’re not called to count it joy for no reason. Of course, there are many good reasons to “count it joy,” Romans 8:28 being just one (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good….”).

But counting it all joy actually produces something in us that’s longer lasting than immediate relief. The ESV calls it “steadfastness,” while many of us know the word “patience” here. Either way, counting it all joy in times of trials is working something of eternal value in us. Of course, it’s a much better witness to others if we don’t cave and fall into complaining in front of others, and it’s more joyful to live in joy than resentment and petulance. These are reasons enough to count it all joy.

Yet there is so much more. There is a “full effect” awaiting us as we stand in that joy. But the good news is that the work isn’t all on us—and that’s where many of us “drop the spiritual ball” over time. In v. 4, we’re encouraged (or more accurately, instructed) to “let” that steadfastness lock into place and continue to have its long-range effect. The origin of that steadfastness that we are supposed to “let… have its full effect” is found in the Lord. If we are abiding in Him, and TBH, even if we’re not, we can draw directly upon his patience/steadfastness/resoluteness, which is all-sufficient and will never, ever run out. God’s goal here is for our blessing—in the short term so that we don’t live in fear or anger or frustration. But He is also looking to tomorrow, next year, and eternity, making us stronger and more mature spiritually, moving ever closer to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18).

So the question is, Will we “let,” or allow, the steadfastness/patience of the Lord work in us all that God intends? Will we connect with Him so closely that these characteristics of our God will become ours as well, and begin to flow through us? Will we continue to stay connected to Him when we’re tempted to move back into fleshly reaction? The steadfastness of the Lord is a treasure trove in times of difficulty, and it’s available to us as we abide in Him. Once we connect with it, we are privileged to “let” it do its wondrous