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Joy in Trials

Read: Philippians 1; James 1:2–4

SOAP: James 1:2–4

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

Life is a complicated mix of ups and downs, highs and lows, mountain tops and valleys. In our passage today, James is writing to the early church to encourage them that, no matter what trials they faced, there was joy to be found—and that same encouragement applies to us, too!

How do we experience joy even through trials? As believers, we know our current circumstances are temporary and that we have a perfect home in heaven waiting for us. When we move our focus away from what is happening to us and around us and instead turn our focus up to God, we can look for the lessons to be learned along the way. 

James tells us that the testing of our faith produces endurance, or the ability to endure with patience. As our endurance is developed, our faith is strengthened, which results in our lives being “perfect and complete.” In this case, perfect does not mean that we won’t make mistakes or experience future trials, but our faith will be mature, complete, and whole. 

God has given us the gift of joy, which we can find in His presence and our relationship with Jesus. Our circumstances are not our source of joy, but we can choose to live out our faith through all seasons, the easy and the hard, the good and the bad, with a desire to become more like Christ. In those challenging times, it will be our example when others continue to see us find joy in the trials. That might be the greatest gift we can give them.

Prayer

Father, it doesn’t make sense that I would find joy in our trials, but Your ways are so much greater than the ways of the world. Thank You for giving me the gift of joy and an eternal focus that helps me persevere and grow in endurance as my faith is strengthened. Amen.