Joy Amidst Trials

 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

- James 1:2-4; 13 (ESV)

Consider it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. How can we consider when we have trials in our lives to consider it all joy? Well, I think for one, we often confuse “joy” and “happiness” with each other. We tend to equate the two together as if they’re the same thing. Happiness is a feeling/emotion, while I think joy is a state of contentment regardless of the circumstances. An example of this I think would be Hebrews 12:2. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (ESV)

If joy was the same as happiness, this verse wouldn’t make any sense. It would mean He was happy being crucified? Unless He’s a masochist, that makes no sense. However, if we don’t look at the word joy as being happy, but a state of contentment in ones soul and mind, this would make more sense. It’s not that He enjoyed being crucified, but perhaps Jesus knowing why He was being crucified. He was laying down His own life, sacrificing His life to save us and show the ultimate form of love (“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 (ESV)). He was laying down His life for His friends - that’s not just His disciples, that includes all of us! We are all His friends! Jesus also knew that even though He was going to die, He wasn’t going to stay dead. He was to rise from the dead three days later, conquering the curse that was upon us because of sin, and He would return to His Father to prepare a place for us (John 14:3).

Having joy amidst trials doesn’t mean enjoying the trials nor necessarily being happy during them. It means during the trials, there is this sort of supernatural contentment, and instead of giving into the darkness of despair or rage, there is a calmness in one’s spirit that things are going to be okay. That Christ is with us in the midst of the trials (we are not alone), and things are going to work out for those who love God (Romans 8:28), even if that is in the next life when we join Christ. It’s also knowing that through our trials, Christ will somehow be glorified.

You can read stories about Christian martyrs before they died, from the early church up to more recent Christian martyrs, people have recounted that they had a supernatural joy to them even in their suffering. Bonhoeffer, for example, is said that he had this joy to him with just being able to live even during his suffering before he was killed. When we look at joy differently instead of meaning happiness, it looks different.

To endure the testing of our faith to build steadfastness, to build character. When we endure the trials in our lives that test our faith, it builds our character and we are stronger from it. It’s like leveling up in a game, the more you endure the testing of your faith, the more you level up in your character! To build our character is extremely important and valuable. We tend to focus a lot on self-help books with various things, and while they can be helpful, if we work on building our character, we can perhaps work through those other issues too.

If we can endure, one day the LORD will reward us for persevering, with the crown of life. The crown of life is a way of Jesus honoring and recognizing those who persevered to the end and stayed faithful to Christ. If you are persevering through suffering, take heart and keep the faith. Stay faithful to the LORD, and He will reward you for it one day. 

Let us have joy amidst the trials and persevere through them! 

In Christ,

Abi ❤️