James 1:2-4
“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.“
James 1:2-4 NRSV
The world, and honestly some churches, preach that pursuing comfort and prosperity is the goal of life. These verses tells us the opposite. It says to consider trials as pure joy because trials are what God is using to perfect our faith. He sets us on the hard road with challenges before us, financial pressure, medical issues, loss, and any number of things. Then He walks with us down that road, helping us through those trials to produce perseverance. Perseverance produces maturity in faith, and a mature faith draws us closer to God, which produces pure joy.
Worship of our God and Savior fuels the engine of perseverance. Worship reminds us of who God is and what he has done for us and others throughout history. It turns our worldly woe is me perspective into a sacred more you less me perspective. Our perspective is turned from seeing hardships as dragging us down, to God using them to build us up.
Perseverance, steadfastness, constancy, endurance; a patient waiting. According to this passage, trials test our faith. And faith develops perseverance, which is necessary if we are going to be spiritually mature. Most believers would likely agree with this truth.
But, what about the joy? How many of us consider it pure joy to develop perseverance? The problem for many of us isn't a lack of knowledge. The problem is a divided heart. In order to find joy in the midst of trials, Christ and His glory must be the object of our heart's affection. In every situation, our goal must be to know Him more and to reflect His character. Only when this is true can we have joy when our faith is being tested. Perseverance is not easy.
Just ask any long distance runner. It hurts to keep running when everything in you longs to stop. The motivation to continue is the reward. The same is true spiritually. Considering it joy to face trials does not mean that we enjoy the hardship. God is not asking us to be happy to have cancer or to lose a job. Jesus was not happy when He went to the cross, but for the joy set before Him He endured.
The joy comes because our hearts are fixed on Jesus, He is our reward. And to be mature in Him we must learn to persevere.
So, if you are struggling to have joy when your faith is tested, examine your heart. Where do your affections lie? Take heart and persevere. The reward is worth the hardship.
Sometimes reading a passage from the Bible in a translation other than the one you are used to can really give you fresh insight. Here, what caught me off guard was how the New Revised Standard Version, phrased a familiar verse speaking of how to deal with trials in this life by saying that we should consider it nothing but joy.
I am used to reading to count it all joy. But consider it nothing but joy is a new understanding for me. Instead of knowing that the trial was a bad thing that I was supposed to dress up as a good thing, counting it as joy.
I am actually supposed to not even think anything about the trial was bad, but rather see through the apparent badness to the joy that it was meant to bring. Nevertheless, let's try to see our trials as God's precious gift to us, His way of helping us grow to be like Him. And for that, we can rejoice!!!
Father, thank you for this day and Your amazing mercy and grace. Lord, let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord, thank You for being an
unchangeable and unshakeable God. Lord, through the friends You have sent into our lives and by the power of Your gift, the Holy Spirit, help us to stand up under trial and prove our character true with perseverance when under fire. Lord, give our faith courage and endurance so that our lives show forth Your enduring strength. Lord, use my friend to be the touch of Your love someone needs today.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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