Put it in the Joy Column

Primary Scripture: James 1:2–4

James gives us some advice that, at first, can be hard to understand.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”

Most of us like to put the things that happen in our lives into different columns.

This was good.

This was difficult.

This was fun.

This was painful.

But James tells us something different. He tells us that even our trials can be placed in the joy column. That does not mean the trial itself feels good. It means we know God can use what we are going through for a purpose.

James says, “when you encounter various trials.” The idea behind encounter is being surrounded by something. We have all had seasons when it feels like problems are coming from every direction. When drama moves into the house and does not want to leave, James still tells us to consider it joy.

Why?

Because our faith is being tested.

Think about buying a car. Most of us would test-drive it before putting money down. We want to know that it works. Our faith is tested too. It is easy to say we trust God when everything is going according to plan. The real question comes when life does not go the way we expected.

Will I still trust God?

Will I still believe that He is faithful?

Will I still follow Christ when I cannot see how everything is going to work out?

James tells us that the testing of our faith produces endurance. Endurance means that I continue walking with God regardless of my circumstances. Just like lifting weights makes us stronger over time, trusting God through trials strengthens our faith.

The more I learn to trust Him, the more I discover that He is faithful.

James 1:4 tells us to let endurance have its “perfect result.” That does not mean we become perfect people. It means we are growing toward maturity. When I look back at difficult seasons in my own life, I can often see how God used them to grow me. During trials, I tend to spend more time in the Bible, more time in prayer, and more time depending upon God.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him. That includes the good things and the difficult things. We may not understand what God is doing while we are walking through the trial.

Sometimes it takes time and patience before we can look back and see how God used our pain. I have watched people take some of the hardest experiences of their lives and later use those experiences to encourage someone else walking through the same kind of hurt.

God can use our trials. So if you are surrounded by difficulty today, keep trusting Him.

Let your faith be tested.

Let that testing produce endurance.

Let endurance bring maturity.

And even when you cannot see the result yet, trust that God is still working. Put it in the joy column, my friends.

Prayer: Lord, help us trust You when life is difficult and we cannot understand what You are doing. Strengthen our faith, produce endurance in us, and use every season to help us grow closer to You. Help us remember that You are still working, even when we cannot see it yet. In Jesus’ name, amen.