Two-minute read.
In God’s upside-down economy, it seems unrealistic to consider it pure joy when we face trials. The Lord calls us to choose a perspective; we can decide how we think about the trials we face. Consider means to evaluate and see something through a different lens. Our joy comes not from the trial itself, but what God does through it. When we consider the Lord’s work in our circumstances, it shifts our viewpoint and gives us hope.
Life comes with all kinds of trials. From picking the wrong line at the grocery store to losing loved ones and everything in between, our struggles come in many forms: stress, loss, uncertainty, disappointment, and waiting. But so do our lessons; we learn the most in difficult circumstances.
Trials refine us.
The Lord never wastes hurt or a trial. Through our struggles, God transforms us as we learn to trust Him more and become more reliant on Him. James acknowledges the varying trials we will face, making the verse relatable. No matter what the trial, we can shift our perspective and consider it joy.
Struggles do test our faith, showing what we have in our hearts. As a pastor said long ago, “When you get squeezed, what comes out?” If we have hearts filled with Jesus, love will respond. However, hearts filled with anger, hate, jealousy, or something else will respond with those things. When the Lord tests us, He does so to refine us like fire refines gold.
And through our trials, we will produce perseverance.
Steady, enduring faith doesn’t collapse under pressure. As we make God a daily priority in our lives, it builds our trust in Him and His strength. When real-life challenges happen, we’ll naturally turn to God for help. Perseverance keeps you going when emotions fade, and answers don’t come quickly.
Trials will come. God will use them to refine us. Testing our faith forms perseverance. Joy happens when we trust the Lord will use the difficult seasons to help us grow.
Reflection:
What current challenge in your life feels hardest to view through the lens of joy? How might your perspective shift if you focused on what God could produce in you through it?
Joy Thought:
God never wastes a trial.
