James 1:2-4

Everybody goes through trials in life, and I have certainly had my share of them. It seems there has been one trial after another for the past several years. It's only been in the past 18 months that I am beginning to understand the purpose that trials have in our lives. This morning I was meditating on the below verses in James.

James 1: 2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Look at the first part of those verses - consider it all joy. We are to consider, and to think about the trials we go through, all of them, with joy. Much to my shame, I can't honestly say that I've counted any of my trials with joy.

Below is just a bit of what Matthew Henry had this to say about verse 1:2:

"One Christian grace to be exercised is joy: Count it all joy, James 1:2. We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials; but must endeavor to keep our spirits dilated and enlarged, the better to take in a true sense of our case, and with greater advantage to set ourselves to make the best of it. Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God. In them we are conformable to Christ our head, and they become marks of our adoption. By suffering in the ways of righteousness, we are serving the interests of our Lord's kingdom among men, and edifying the body of Christ; and our trials will brighten our graces now and our crown at last. Therefore there is reason to count it all joy when trials and difficulties become our lot in the way of our duty. And this is not purely a New Testament paradox, but even in Job's time it was said, Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth. There is the more reason for joy in afflictions if we consider the other graces that are promoted by them."

I have to remind myself daily that there is a purpose behind every trial I go through. Knowing that God is working them out for my good, and His glory does make them easier to go through. It doesn't make it easy, but it does make it easier.

Romans 8: 28-29 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

I long to have that joy in the midst of these trials, and I'm thankful that it is God who works in me both the willingness, and the doing of His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.