FaithSample

Let’s be honest—when James says, “Count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds,” most of us want to respond, “Easy for you to say!” But James isn’t being naïve or asking us to slap on a fake smile during hard times. He’s offering us a heavenly perspective: that trials, as uncomfortable as they are, can become tools in God’s hands to shape us, strengthen us, and—believe it or not—fill us with joy.

Now, biblical joy isn’t confetti and cupcakes. It’s not a mood; it’s a mindset. It’s a deep, settled confidence that God is at work, even when life feels like it’s unraveling. Joy, in God’s economy, is the result of trusting that our trials aren’t random, but redemptive.

You see, trials test our faith, and testing produces endurance. Not the kind of endurance that merely holds on by a thread, but a gritty, holy resilience. It’s the kind of strength that doesn’t collapse when the wind blows. Like Jesus’ parable of the house on the rock, trials reveal our foundation—and if it’s Christ, we’ll still be standing when the storm passes.

But how do we get there?

James tells us: Ask God for wisdom. When you don’t know what God is doing (and let’s face it, that’s often), ask Him. He’s not stingy with clarity. Then—here’s the hard part—ask in faith. That doesn’t mean pretending you’re fine. It means trusting God even when you’re not. It means praying like the father who said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” That kind of honest, messy faith? God loves it.

James warns against being double-minded—believing God one moment and doubting Him the next. It’s not about never having questions; it’s about not living in a state of divided loyalty. Faith is leaning your whole weight on God, even when your knees are shaking.

And here’s the irony: trials, the very things we dread, are often the birthplace of the faith we desperately need. They strip away our self-sufficiency and lead us to the edge of what’s possible—so God can show us what He can do.

So today, don’t just survive your trial—lean into it. Let it teach you, shape you, and deepen your trust in the God who brings joy from sorrow and strength from struggle.