FACING TRIALS WITH JOY
James 1:1-12
INTRODUCTION: Some people consider it pure joy when they escape trials. But James calls us to consider it pure joy when we face trials. This seems like an impossible thing to be able to do. What do we need to have if we are going to have joy in the midst of trials?
1) Understanding (1:3-4). The first thing we need to understand is that there will be trials. James said in verse two-when you face trials. He didn’t say if, he said when. This is similar to what Paul said in 2nd Tim 3:12 when he said that anyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. He didn’t say might be, he said will be. It’s the same here. We can endure testing with joy when we realize that trials are going to come and we need not be surprised by them or think that we did something bad to have it happen to us. When Job went through his time of testing there was an important aspect to his perseverance. 1:20-22, 2:9-10. If we think God is doing something wrong in allowing testing and trial to come our way then there is no way we will persevere through it; especially with joy. If we are going to be joyous in the midst of our trials we need to understand that God is not being cruel and unjust by allowing trials. We also need to understand the purpose behind the trials. When we can understand that God isn’t apathetically throwing trouble our way but instead is only doing what’s best for us then we can accept what he allows to come our way with joy, knowing that persevering through this adverse situation will make me wiser, stronger and closer with God. Paul said in Rom. 5:3-4 that we rejoice in our sufferings because they produce perseverance, character and hope. Going through trials and having to endure suffering is a spiritual benefit to us when we understand the purpose behind it. 1st Pet. 1:3-7. Our faith needs to be tested. We need to know if our faith is genuine. A genuine faith can accomplish many things for God. Our genuine, active faith results in praise, glory and honor for God. We need to understand all this in order to have joy in the midst of trials.
2) Encouragement. Rom. 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” The bible is a great source of encouragement when we’re facing a time of trial and testing. Consider Job. Job’s perseverance netted him blessings at the end-a picture of what is waiting for us when we persevere. Job 42:12-17. Job was a pretty well-to-do man. But in short order he had lost everything. Job was even afflicted with painful boils and sores. Job went through the worst trial you could imagine. But, he persevered through it and in the end God blessed him more than he had before. I have drawn encouragement from Job in that if Job could persevere through what he went through, so can I. Even though Job had times in which he wasn’t very joyous in the midst of his suffering, he still persevered. We get encouragement through the scriptures and we get encouragement through others. Gal. 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” There is comfort and encouragement when someone comes along side of us in our time of need. We are encouraged when someone shares their testimony of how they persevered through a trial and that can provide us insight into what we might need to do along with the comfort and assurance knowing that what God can and did for this other person he can and will do for us if we are trusting and faithful in our trial. We need to be encouraged if we are going to persevere through trials with joy.
3) Wisdom (1:5). If we are going to persevere, we need wisdom. Wisdom allows us to not act according to our feelings during our trial. Wisdom allows us to not judge by mere appearances. When things look bleak we might assume all hope is lost. But wisdom that trusts in God allows us to see things in the proper perspective in knowing God has everything under control. Wisdom means I will conduct my decision making according to God’s will. I will not lean on my own understanding, I will not act impulsively; instead, I will handle things wisely. But this appeal for wisdom needs to be with the trust that God will provide it (vs. 6-8). God has promised to generously give us wisdom, not because we deserve it for he does so without finding fault; which means even if I mess-up I can ask for wisdom to make a better choice next time and he’ll grant it. I need to believe that God is the source of true wisdom I need to believe that God’s wisdom is what is necessary for me to endure, with joy, this affliction I’m going through. I cannot doubt the wisdom of God for if I do, I will be unstable in all I do. Being tossed about like the wave of the sea will be seen in me making rash decisions and fluctuating my thinking and reasoning and opinion back and forth during my trial that will lead to regret and more affliction! I cannot doubt the wisdom of God and what he reveals to me that I need to do in accordance to that wisdom. I will be faced with choices I need to make when I’m faced with a time of testing. If I ask for wisdom, I need to surrender to that wisdom. If I doubt, I am going to make poor choices that will cost me greatly. Wisdom is needed in order to have joy when we’re being tested.
4) Humility (vs. 9-11). (vs. 9): the person who is dealing with humbling trials like poverty or abandonment can suffer through it with joy because of his high position in Christ. James 2:5. (vs. 10): The person who is rich shouldn’t grumble over his trial or loss (such as a loss of job or his wealth) but rather rejoice that he was brought low so he could understand that true joy and true security is not found in a job or in riches. And also to understand the brevity and frailty of life; regardless of whether one was rich or poor. He needs to rejoice that he was put in a humble situation in order to learn reliance on God for the things he may have trusted in money for. James’ humility (vs.1). Here we see James calling himself a servant of Jesus and drawing no attention to being his brother. Neither did he mention that he was an Apostle. He just humbly referred to himself as a servant of Jesus. Matt. 23:12, “for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” There is no joy in pride. Humility is a necessity if we are going to persevere with joy.
5) Motivation (1:12). We all need motivators to reach goals. I might have the desire to lose weight and get in shape but guess what-it’s going to involve some discipline, some sweat, and some pain. So what’s my motivation to commit my time and energy? What’s the incentive to change my diet and make sacrifices? Becoming healthy and well and improving my quality of life. So what’s our motivation to endure through these trials and tribulations with joy? Rom. 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” It’s all worth it. There are payoffs to persevering with joy. However, we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy the rewards of persevering under trial. We can experience blessings both during and after our trials. When we trust God and act in faith during our trials we experience the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7). We experience joy when we can deal with problems without worry, fear, doubt or anger. Also, when we come through a trial, we experience the blessing of having seen God work. Often times things are kept hidden to test our faith but in due time they become known. But we forfeit that blessing when we compromise and cave in to the pressure and give up. We can be motivated by the knowledge that we will see God’s mighty hand at work through our perseverance under trial. We will see God in a new, glorious light when we experience the providential hand of God in our trials. If we can anticipate this when we face a trial, we can do it with joy. All these blessings are great motivators for enduring with joy.
CONCLUSION: In order to determine how strong our faith is we need it to be tested. Trials are God’s way of increasing our faith. Trials are God’s way of instilling growth and maturity in his children. Trails are never meant to be a source of digression or to pull us away from God; they are allowed so we would draw closer to him. Draw closer and ask for the wisdom to endure and make correct and godly choices. Draw closer in trust and reliance instead of relying on our money or our intelligence or our strength. All these realizations should cause us joy; maybe to the point of welcoming a time of testing, that we may see the benefits of a stronger walk with God and have a testimony for others.
