Counting It All Joy Even Through the Hard Stuff
Your Nightly Prayer for Mar. 19, 2025
By Lynette Kittle
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds”—James 1:2
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Most of us don’t think of going through tough times, where we experience difficult, challenging, or sorrowful events, as reasons to consider joy, much less pure joy. Rather, it’s quite the opposite for the majority of us, seeing it as a time to lament. Trials can come in many forms, from facing rejection, loss of family members, positions, friendships, reputations, finances, possessions, injuries, illness, and more, none of which cause us to clap our hands and jump for joy at the very thought of living through them.
We don’t usually welcome various trials, seeing them as opportunities to grow spiritually, but instead try to avoid them and wish with all our hearts that they hadn’t ever happened. Still, as many Christians attest, spiritual growth and depth most often seem to come through these unwelcome trying times, much more than when everything in their lives seems to be going well. The Apostle Paul experienced many trials, writing to encourage and explain to us in Romans 5:3-5 that suffering in life produces perseverance, which in turn produces character, and then hope, which does not lead to shame.
James also tries to encourage us, agreeing with Paul’s words in writing that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, urging us to “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). Still, many of us go through times where we don’t hold up very well, yet God understands our frailty, even more so than we do, not holding our failures against us when we give in under pressure (2 Corinthians 5:19).
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” - Hebrews 4:15
In truth, as Paul explains in Romans 8:28, God does even more than just understand our failings; He has amazing ways to transform them to cause good in our lives. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Dear Father,
Help me to consider it joy when the hard, difficult, challenging, disappointing, and sorrowful events happen in life. Lead me in learning how to grow and mature through them rather than act childishly and immaturely when faced with various trials. Open my heart to receive the things that will make me complete and produce character in me. My heart is grateful for Your understanding of my weaknesses when I fall under various pressures and for not holding them against me but causing them to work together for my good.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. In recalling various trials in your life, look at them now and the impact they had on you, and if you are able to see how you persevered through them. Did they cultivate maturity in you? If so, in what ways and areas?
2. Paul, in Romans 8:28, assures us that God will work all things together in our lives for good. If so, take some time to consider some of the trials you’ve experienced and if you’re seeing evidence of God at work through them.
3. Because it’s not easy and may even seem impossible to consider facing hard things as joy, ask God to help you, showing you how to grow and mature through them.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/gorodenkoff
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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Originally published Wednesday, 19 March 2025.
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