unexpected joy during unexpected times

morning cinnamon vanilla steamer 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

Joy? Really? Joy here... joy now?  Where God and how? 

In this world we are prone to suffer. It's the pain from the loss of a loved one, disappointment, rejection, medical illness, failed trust, feeling like a failure, and whatever just came to your mind. 
These are the things that test us and show how we handle them.

So how do we count it all joy? 

Christians are called to count these trials in life as joy because that's just what they become ... trials. There is now a purpose to what is purposeless without Christ. Trials that break down the hardness of our flesh (pride, selfishness... etc). As one pastor said, with extreme heat, clay cracks. And there are trials that we go through that God will use for His glory presently or in the future- whether you know it or not (Rom 8:18). 

As James says it's because "you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance". Perseverance for what? More trials. 

Oh how good God is that He would use what all people must go through (which is suffering) as an opportunity to be used and molded by Him as christians!      

And don't give up! "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  How many times have I given up on patience and kindness when I start thinking about how much I hate being "here" or "there" and I start acting negative towards others. What if I just persevered longer, what work could have been done in me and through me? 

Where do we find this joy? In Christ Jesus who bore the ultimate trial. When we seek Him, He will provide our strength to persevere. And we can find our support and encouragement through the trials in each other. 

So how do we count it all joy? I think Paul explains it pretty well in Romans. 

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18

I encourage you to scroll to the top and click on the song "Your Hands" on the right hand side of the page and give it a listen. 

I hope today - whatever happens, good or bad - that you can praise God for doing a work in you.