“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: But he that refuseth reproof erreth. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, And he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: But fools die for want of wisdom. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, And he addeth no sorrow with it. It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: But a man of understanding hath wisdom. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: But the desire of the righteous shall be granted.”
Proverbs 10:17-24 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.10.17-24.KJV
Responding to God at All Times
Throughout our lives, we will all experience both suffering and joy. We'll have times of great grief and times of overflowing happiness. Sometimes, they’ll be separate seasons—but other times, these experiences come together.
In either case and in any situation, James expected Christians to come to God. If someone was suffering, prayer was the call to action. If someone was cheerful, people were to pause and praise God.
This might seem obvious, but when suffering clouds our thinking, we can sometimes forget to prioritize prayer. And when things are going well and we're feeling cheerful, it’s easy to just enjoy our season and not stop long enough to praise God for it. But every season of life is actually just an opportunity to put into practice what James wrote about…
When we are suffering, let us pray. When those around us are suffering, let us pray. When we are cheerful or happy, let us praise God. When others are happy, let us praise God with ...