“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than an house full of sacrifices with strife. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: But the LORD trieth the hearts. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: Much less do lying lips a prince.”
Proverbs 17:1-7 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.17.1-7.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 ...