The Word tells us to “count it all joy when
we fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2) or,
as the Greek text says, “into different trials
and tribulations.” What does the Word say
about joy? There is a difference between joy and
happiness. Happiness is controlled by the
condition or the comfort of the five physical
senses. Joy is not. The Bible says that joy is a
fruit of the spirit. It is a spiritual force—it is
born inside the human heart. We read in
Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord is
our strength, so we can count it strength
when these trials and tribulations come our
way. Don’t count it defeat—count it strength!
Don’t count it negative—count it affirmative!
Jesus said, “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your
joy may be full” (John 16:24). Count it
answered prayer.

To count it all joy does not mean that you
are to thank God because your child is sick.
Let’s look at a portion of the Scripture here
that is often misunderstood.

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Some of us have read this verse and
thought, “The will of God is for me to give
thanks for everything.” That is not true. That
thing or circumstance
is not the will of God for you—giving
thanks is the will of God. When
you praise God and give Him thanks in the
midst of your situation, you step under the
protective umbrella of the will of God. You
may not know what the Word says about
your particular situation, but the Word does
say to give thanks. Then, while you are under
that protective umbrella, Satan can’t touch you.

You may ask, “How do you count it all joy, Sister
Copeland?” I had a good opportunity to do this one
night when my little daughter had a high
fever. I went into her room, laid hands on
her and prayed, “Father, in the Name of
Jesus, I count it all joy to prove once again
that the Word is real and filled with power.
I’m a faith man, and I’m not moved by what
I see. I’m turning her over to You, and I
believe that You will take care of her in Jesus’
Name. Now, I just praise You and thank You
for her healing.” I didn’t praise God for her
fever because it wasn’t hers and God didn’t
give it to her. Jesus bore her sickness and
disease. If it belonged to anyone, it belonged
to Satan, who was trying to put it on her.

I have accepted Calvary as the sacrifice
that paid the price for my total redemption—
from sin, sickness, poverty, and death. I
believe that and I stand on it. I have certain
rights, called righteousness, in the kingdom
of God and one of these is the right to a
healthy body. Jesus has provided it for me,
and I take hold of it with my faith.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Psalm 40:11
KJV—Withhold not thou thy tender mercies
from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and
thy truth continually preserve me.

AMP—Withhold not Your tender mercies from
me, O Lord; let Your loving-kindness and Your
truth continually preserve me!

Moffatt—Thou wilt not keep back from me
thy mercy; thy love and faithfulness shall ever
be my guard.

NIV—Do not withhold your mercy from me,
O Lord; may your love and your truth always
protect me.

Psalm 107:1-3
KJV—O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is
good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the
redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath
redeemed from the hand of the enemy; and
gathered them out of the lands, from the east,
and from the west, from the north, and from
the south.

AMP—O give thanks to the Lord, for He is
good; for His mercy and loving-kindness
endure forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so, whom He has delivered from the hand
of the adversary, and gathered them out of
the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the…south.

Moffatt—Hallelujah! “Give thanks to the
Eternal!—he is good, his kindness never fails!”
Be this the song of the redeemed, redeemed
by the Eternal from their foes, gathered from
lands afar, from east and west, from north
and south.

NIV—Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever. Let the redeemed
of the Lord say this—those he redeemed
from the hand of the foe, those he gathered
from the lands, from east and west, from
north and south.

Isaiah 54:10
KJV—For the mountains shall depart, and the
hills be removed; but my kindness shall not
depart from thee, neither shall the covenant
of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that
hath mercy on thee.

AMP—Though the mountains should depart
and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My
love and kindness shall not depart from
you, nor shall My covenant of peace and
completeness be removed, says the Lord,
Who has compassion on you.

Moffatt—Though mountains be removed, and
hills be shaken, never shall my love leave you,
my compact for your welfare shall stand firm:
so promises the Eternal in his pity.

NIV—“Though the mountains be shaken and
the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for
you will not be shaken nor my covenant of
peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has
compassion on you.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries