I can be unhappy in my current circumstances yet still find joy in knowing that God is in control of all things.
Recently, my family has been going through some trials. It’s as if the enemy, himself, is aiming his fiery darts directly at us. Each night, we go to bed and pray for a better tomorrow. We ask God to bless us, solve our problems, and, at least, give us answers and direction. Each night, my husband and I toss and turn, wondering when it will get easier.
A few weeks ago, the morning after a stress-filled evening, I woke up and followed my normal morning routine—feed the dog, make my first cup of coffee, take the dog out, and then plop down on the sofa with my coffee, journal, Bible, pen, and one hefty bulldog in my lap.
I’ve been reading through the New Testament for the last several months, and I just happened to be starting the Book of James that day. When I read this verse, I couldn’t help but think that God was speaking directly to me, through James, about my current circumstances and even ones that were still brewing that I wasn’t yet aware of:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” James 1:2 (ESV)
In James 1:2-5, we are given a fresh perspective on how to view our problems. In no way is James telling us to diminish our problems, and in no way is finding joy despite our troubles going to actually make them go away.
One of my favorite ways to understand a passage is to read it in a different version of the Bible. The New Living Translation reads like this:
“When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
As I read the verse again, I made a few observations. First, the word “when” indicates that we will encounter difficult times. It’s not if, it’s when. I guess that part wasn’t so much of a surprise to me, but it was comforting just to be validated in the fact that enduring trials is not unique to me. We all face them at some point, no matter how close we are to God, or how good our life seems. It’s not that we've done anything wrong, it’s the effect of living in a broken, fallen world.
I also noticed that not only are we to find joy in our trials, but we are to see our trials as an opportunity for joy. This is where I could see people thinking I’m a bit crazy. How can I be joyful during hard times? After all, I definitely don’t enjoy having problems. It seems like it would be so much easier to find joy if everything in life were simple and easy. However, on the contrary, James tells us that our trials give way to joy.
Another observation is that the words "joy" and "happy," though often used synonymously, represent different states of being. Happiness is a fleeting emotion characterized by temporarily feeling good and is highly dependent on our circumstances. We can shift from happy to mad or sad in an instant.
Joy is a state of mind that is not based on our circumstances but on a sense of knowing that despite the current situation, we have a God we can trust and who loves us.
I can be unhappy in my current circumstances yet still find joy in knowing that God is in control of all things.
For many, joy may seem out of reach, or even elusive, especially when the trials never seem to end. You may catch a momentary glimpse of joy, but like a vapor, you can never quite take hold of it.
I realize it often seems impossible to find joy in the face of trials. However, James does not leave us hanging, left on our own to figure out what he means. The next several verses provide necessary instructions and reminders for anyone who may struggle to have joy when challenges come their way.
Trials Are Just Tests
Maybe the problem is that we take life too seriously. What if instead of seeing our trials as inconvenient problems to overcome, we started seeing them for what they really are—tests? To advance in school, sports, martial arts, music, or our careers, we have to go through some form of testing to prove that we are ready to be promoted.
Some of us are good test takers and some of us hate tests. I happen to enjoy tests. I’ve always seen them as an opportunity to prove what I know. My husband and daughter, on the other hand, have test-taking anxiety and see tests as an unnecessary evil. Instead of putting their hard work on display, their hands get sweaty, their hearts race, and their minds go blank.
Perhaps this is why some of us dread trials in life. Trials make us nervous. We don’t know what the outcome will be, and we struggle to see the purpose through the pain. In verse 3, James says that trials are the method by which our faith is tested. Essentially, God is testing us to see how much we trust Him. When put through trials, are we willing to surrender the outcome to God, and can we simply trust that He is good, He has a plan, and He wants what is best for us?
If a trial is merely a test, then all that’s needed to pass it is faith.
There’s a Reward for Passing
Just like any test, there’s a reward for passing. Have you ever been enticed to take a survey in hopes that there will be a reward at the end, only to later realize that the only reward is a “Thank you for your time!” note after clicking submit? I always feel like I’ve been ripped off. I want to be rewarded for my effort and for donating five minutes of my time.
The great thing about trials is there’s always a reward. Rather than receiving a grade or a promotion, this kind of test rewards us with steadfastness—the reward for being faithful through trials is that we grow even stronger in our faith.
It’s like bodybuilding. Each time we increase our weight, our muscles grow stronger, allowing us to increase our weight even more. The stronger we get, the stronger we have the opportunity to become. Likewise, the stronger our faith gets, the stronger our faith can become.
Trials Mean You’re Ready for the Test
Have you ever stopped to consider that if your trials seem to grow in intensity, maybe it means you’re doing something right?
Remember Job? God couldn’t find anything wrong with Job and even said this about him:
“There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” Job 1:8 (ESV)
Yet, we all know what happened to Job. He was put through multiple tests not by God but by Satan. God allowed Satan to test Job because He knew that Job was up for the task and would not let Him down.
So when James says, “Count it all joy when we encounter various trials,” we ought to realize that the trials are coming because God knows we are ready to be tested. We are ready to level up and receive our reward.
Trials Are Open-Book Tests
If you struggle with test-taking anxiety, especially if your mind goes blank when you’re put under pressure, an open-book test is useful because you no longer have to rely on your memory.
When going through the various trials that life throws at us, it can often be difficult to know what to do, where to turn, or even who to seek advice from. In verse 5, James says that we have access to God:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (ESV)
Being able to reach out to God in prayer and hearing from Him through the Bible and godly counsel is our “open book” for all of life’s trials.
There is a disclaimer, though, that James warns about. In verse 6, he says that when we ask God for wisdom, we must ask in faith. Are you starting to get the idea? Everything points back to faith.
To summarize, if our faith is strong, God will allow us to be tested, and when we are tested, our faith grows stronger, allowing us to be tested more. If at any point we are unsure of what to do, all we have to do is ask God for wisdom, and when we ask in faith, He will give it to us, leading us to grow in our faith even more.
It’s almost like we are stuck in this constant cycle of growing in our faith and being tested. But don’t be discouraged. There will come a day when you will pass the final test and receive your final reward. This is the day that we all long for, the prize that the Apostle Paul so often referred to:
“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 1:12 (ESV)
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Grant Faint
Jennifer Jabbour resides in the scenic San Diego countryside with her husband, adult son, and teen daughter, and their hilarious English Bulldog. Jennifer has a B.A. in Integrated Business Communications, and is a Go + Tell Gals licensed life coach. Jennifer hopes to use her calling of writing, coaching, and speaking to equip and empower women to clarify their vision and to boldly step forward in response to God's calling on their life, as well as educate and encourage others to experience the abundance of God's goodness when they seek Him first in all that they do. Jennifer is also a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a photographer, and an avid outdoors-woman. She loves camping, hiking, running, and playing the piano in her free time.
You can keep up with Jennifer on her website https://www.jenniferjabbour.
