Afflicted or Merry?

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.  Is any merry? let him sing psalms."

James 5:13

There are two responses to two types of situations:

    When I am afflicted, (troubled mentally or physically) I am to pray.

    When I am merry, (full of high spirit) then I am to sing psalms.

I am to pray to The One Who can remove my affliction-

I am to praise The One Who brings me joy!

So, the question is, do I go to Him when I am troubled, or is my first response to turn to a friend or family member for help?

When all is well, do I remember to praise The One Who causes me to rejoice?  Or do I take my present circumstance for granted?

A lot to think about today from such a small verse...

    But that's just me!

"As sure as God puts His children in the furnace of affliction, He will be with them."

Charles Spurgeon

"Joy is not the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God."

Robert Schuller