Joy Over Trials

James 1:2-4

Verse 2  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

    This is a verse we have all heard multiple times and have probably struggled with the concept just as many times.  Joy and trials seem like polar opposites and so we struggle with the idea that we are to choose one when we are going through the other.  But there is something that we will miss if we are so focused on the trial portion of the verse.

    We should take a bit to meditate on the very first word in our key verse as it shapes the full truth of the verse.  The word ‘consider’ is a reminder to get our minds off of the trial and onto something more productive.  The word translated ‘consider’ could also be translated ‘esteem’ which helps us to understand the point James was trying to get across.

    It isn’t all about merely trying to be joyful while going through the trials of life.  To consider or esteem joy, we need to be focused on it and when we focus on it we will find that the trials are still there, but they don’t hold the power over us that they had in the past.  Remember, the truth about joy is that it comes from the Lord.  He doesn’t let anything come into our lives without having a purpose for it.  A purpose to grow us into who He wants us to be.

    The only way we can find joy in the midst of our trials is to be focused on Him so we can see what He may be working out in our lives.  We can look at the lessons this trial could be teaching us.  Is the trial giving us an opportunity to stretch our faith muscles?  Or maybe we are learning patience through the situation we didn’t sign up for.  There are so many ways we can grow during the hard times in life, but only if we are looking to Christ and leaning into Him.

    This is how joy is a gift during trials.  God could have just left us to struggle through life, confused and stressed, going through trial after trial.  But we serve a loving God.  He desires to do a great work in our lives and so He gave us joy to focus on in the hard times so He can shape us into the people He desires us to be.

Making It Personal

    How good at choosing joy are you as you go through the challenges of life?  Have you noticed a growth in your life after choosing joy during a trial?  Where do you need to focus on joy today?

Making It Personal Kids

    How can you choose joy when things are going bad in life?  Did you know that you can grow to be more like Jesus if you choose to focus on joy during trials?  What do you need to choose joy about today?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for giving us the option of choosing to focus on the joy we have in You during the trials of life.  Thank You also for using them to grow us spiritually.  Help us know the truth of choosing joy.  In Jesus’ name, amen.