Trials and Joy
James 1:2 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials….” That sounds like a preposterous statement. Who thinks joy and trials fit together? However, James is presenting God’s perspective, not a human one. It’s important to realize that these verses are not telling us to be happy in our pain, but rather to rejoice in the blessings that accompany suffering. When we look at hardships from God’s perspective, we can rejoice in the beneficial outcome, even while experiencing pain. For many, understanding the purpose of trials makes rejoicing easier. The Lord wants adversity to test our faith and produce endurance and spiritual maturity. In every hardship, He has hidden a beautiful and precious reward, but whether we receive it depends upon our response. Those who really want to be transformed into the image of Christ can rejoice in the good that will result from hard circumstances. None of us want to experience pain, but since it’s an unavoidable reality in this fallen world, why not respond in a way that produces eternal benefit?
