2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. -- James 1:2-3

Joy in Trials (James 1:2-3)

Today, we continue our journey word by word, verse by verse, through the book of James!

In verses 2 and 3, James commands believers to consider it a great joy when they experience various trials. At first glance, this passage can seem counterintuitive. How can we possibly find joy in difficult situations? How can we find joy in a cancer diagnosis? How can we find joy in the death of a loved one?

James is not suggesting that we deny our pain or pretend that everything is okay. Nor is he saying we should rejoice in the difficult or even terrible situation that we may find ourselves in. Rather, he is encouraging us to shift our perspective from the situation to what the situation will produce.

We find joy in what the trial produces IN US.

Believers embody an attitude of joy in the midst of trials and tribulations because we know that this pain produces something valuable in us. We take this counterintuitive perspective because we know that this testing of our faith produces endurance (v.3). Trials encourage a continuing dependence upon God and maturation toward our end goal of Christlikeness.

Mike says it this way,

"God never wastes our pain and never wastes our experiences"

During my first year of seminary, I sat down with a lifelong missionary who has done amazing things across the world and asked the age-old question: If you could go back to your 20 year old self, what would you tell him?

His answer: "Embrace the pain."

I was shocked. What was I to do with that? May he recognized by shock, so he continued:

"Pain carves the key that opens the door to your destiny"

I'll never forget hearing those words. I think the words of that missionary are synonymous with James 1:2-3. We rejoice in trials not because they are good but because of what God does in and through us in suffering is good.

So, brothers and sisters, may we embrace an attitude of joy as we trust that our heavenly Father uses our pain for our ultimate good.