“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: But through knowledge shall the just be delivered. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: But a man of understanding holdeth his peace. A talebearer revealeth secrets: But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: And he that hateth suretiship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: And strong men retain riches.”
Proverbs 11:9-16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.11.9-16.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 ...