When Work Hurts: Finding Hope and Purpose When Suffering on the JobSample

Day 3

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” - ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Joy? For trials? That’s an oxymoron.

Let’s look at the definition of joy. Joy is defined as “a feeling of great pleasure or happiness.” And James is instructing us Christians to have great (great) pleasure when we face trials, of ANY kind.

During my season of suffering on the job, I found myself getting excited about the plot twist. For months, I was still having to deal with an unruly superior, and almost daily she would gloat at her superiority. She possessed this heir of superiority and even appeared to feel empowered by being “untouchable.” Investigation after investigation and she was still seated in her position. In the midst of this chaos, I was in search of some joy. And low and behold in my search for joy, James 1 falls into my lap. I began to think of how joy could come from this chaos.

Then it hit me! Haman! Haman was over all the king's palace. He was Mr. Big Stuff. The Spirit whispered “Haman” in my ear, and I instantly smiled. I even chuckled. Could this be the plot twist? Would the proverbial stake my “Haman” was building for me be used to impale her?

I found myself rejoicing. If I’m honest, I even began to dream about how God would vindicate me in the presence of my enemies. I found joy amid this storm because I knew who controlled the clouds.

At some point, I found myself still joyful in God’s ability to turn this situation around, but as I fantasized, I began to fear what God might do to my enemy. After all, I recognize I do not wrestle against flesh and blood. And while she wasn’t the best person, she was still a human being with a family. I didn’t want to see anything bad happen to her, so I began to pray for the very person who was vying to do me in. God showed me what it meant to pray for your enemies, and I was able to do so from a genuine place. I prayed God would have my back and that He would have mercy as well.

Remember, when You are in a trial and when you are suffering, God allowed it to happen. Nothing got by Him. Whether it was his divine plan or our actions that triggered the issue …whatever may be, God owns this situation.

We are characters in the story, playing our part. And James reminds us in James 1 that we are to be joyful when we face a trial of any kind. Verse 3 tells us why, “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” The many situations God allows to test our faith are His way of showing us we can trust Him no matter what comes our way. These are opportunities to grow stronger in our experience with Christ.

Maybe your season of suffering on the job has you feeling defeated. Perhaps you’re reading this saying “yeah but.” Let me encourage you, friend! God not only sees it, but also He’s commanded us to have joy IN it.

He is the ultimate screenwriter. We are actors on the stage. This scripture calls your character to show joy in a circumstance where joy has no rightful place.

…And action!!!

Prayer:

Father, I invite Your Spirit to do a work in me, as I grow in Your ways. Help me, Jesus, to find joy in this season, and may I mature and be complete, found lacking nothing, as I trust You with my pain. I love you, and I thank you for being God. In Jesus' name, amen.