James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

If you have heard this verse preached before, you no doubt have struggled with it as much as I have.  God doesn’t tell us merely to endure trials and hard times, he tells us to count it all joy.  How are we to look at circumstances and pain with a heart of joy?  It isn’t easy.  If it is a struggle for you, you are not alone.  I would go so far as to say if you do not have the hope of the gospel in your heart, it is impossible.

We live in a world stained by sin; others’ sin, my sin, and your sin.  It is because of this that we are not surprised at all when trials come.  When they do, as Christians we are able to look beyond what is seen to what is unseen and find hope.  We know that Jesus is the answer for the things we see that are wrong.  We see others as broken, and in need of prayer and encouragement rather than an object of our anger.  We see disease and death as evidence of what is wrong in the world and remember that once and for all Jesus has made things right on the cross – this is not our home – our home is with God, where there will be no more sickness, no more pain, and no tears.  This is how we find joy amidst any circumstance.  If not immediately, then soon through prayer and refreshment from God’s Word to us – because the mercies of God are new each morning, reminding us that we are His, and our future is secure in Him.

2 Corinthians 4:6-11  “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Christian, be encouraged.  You will always be in a hard time, coming out of a hard time, or about to be in a hard time.  That is a constant in life.  What we have, that the world does not understand, and what can be a powerful means of declaring the hope that is within us, is peace and joy in Jesus amidst any trial.  We eagerly forgive others, we bless those who persecute us, we pray for those who sin against us, we endure difficulties knowing that Jesus endured as we have, and these 70, 80, 90 years we have on Earth are a blink of an eye in comparison to eternity, in a fullness of joy with God in Heaven.  Every hard time is an opportunity to grow your faith in Jesus, to build a steadfast immovable faith that makes the world ask, who is your God?  Keep running strong, and know that every saint before you has walked a similar path.

 

Grace and Peace,

Adam