“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: But he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: But a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: But the root of the righteous shall not be moved. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. The thoughts of the righteous are right: But the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: But the house of the righteous shall stand.”
Proverbs 12:1-7 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.12.1-7.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 ...