“For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD shall reward thee. The north wind driveth away rain: So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country. A righteous man falling down before the wicked Is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search their own glory is not glory. He that hath no rule over his own spirit Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
Proverbs 25:22-28 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.25.22-28.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 ...