Count It All Joy

The last 12 months have brought countless challenges that even the wisest among us could have hardly predicted.

It was nearly one year ago that a pathogen — the kind that health experts had long feared — began spreading around the world and into the lives of Americans. Life ground to a halt. Businesses, churches, and schools closed. Millions lost their jobs. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives.

At the same time, our nation reckoned with racism and riots, followed by a hyper-partisan election season unlike any in recent memory.

The Bible provides perspective, as it always does. In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Likewise, in his epistle, James encourages readers to consider trials “pure joy,” for “the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

These inspired words do not minimize the difficulty of our trials. But they do call upon us not to suffer without hope.

Over the last year, I have been heartened by the faith of our ADF clients. In nearly every circumstance, they have endured fiery tests only to emerge deeper and stronger than they were before.

I think of church leaders who were determined to serve their communities in the midst of a once-in-acentury pandemic. They stood up when government officials overstepped their authority and trampled religious freedom. I think of courageous young people like Florida State University student Jack Denton, who endured a smear campaign for merely expressing his faith. And I think of long-suffering clients like Barronelle Stutzman, who is still waiting for justice.

These days have tested our collective faith in our leaders, in the durability of the American republic, and even in our fellow man. As this edition of Faith & Justice reaches your mailbox, we very well may be stepping out of the long shadow cast by 2020 and into a new day’s light. Yet new challenges are already on their way. We will soon learn what kind of perseverance, character, and hope our shared suffering has produced.

Whatever is ahead, I am assured of God’s power. I’ve seen God work at ADF, and in the lives of our clients. And I am confident that He can do it again. I count it a privilege to face future challenges with the ADF team, our clients, and our Ministry Friends by my side. In the days ahead, let’s remember to count it all joy.