Joy in Trials

I have been thinking about James 1:2-4 since our small group yesterday! James writes,

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials..."

Isn't it interesting how we respond to trials? When something difficult crosses our path, we often look for a way around the obstacle. Yet Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13 a few interesting things concerning trials or temptations.

First, they are common to man. Don't ever allow yourself to think that no one has ever navigated successfully the trials you are in! This is a deceitful lie of Satan. Isolation destroys you and allows sin to have its way with you. Find someone who has been where you are and seek their accountability!

Second, we see that God is faithful! DUH! If He is unchanging and constant - the only constant that we know - then it just follows that He is faithful! Do you want to know what faithfulness is? Think of all the times you made an appointment and were late. Think of all the plans (resolutions) you made and failed to follow through on. Think of all the times you were just plain inadequate. God is the infinite opposite of all of that.

Third, we see that God will not allow you to be tested beyond your ability! In other words, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN!! See Romans 6 for a great reference to that! Don't ever be tempted to think that as a Christian you have no choice but to sin! If the Holy Spirit is living in you, there is the hope of victory! If you are not walking in the Spirit but are relying on your own strength to obey, you will fail. But if you are relying on Christ for His strength to live your life righteously, He will be your victory! Colossians 2:15 talks about the complete victory Christ brings!

Lastly, we see that God will provide a way of escape, that we will be able to endure it! Now, I think we forget to meditate on that last part. We love the way of escape! We long for the day when there will be no more struggle! We crave and yearn for Christ to do away with the war that is being waged withing us. The end of the verse, however, helps us understand this way of escape. The way of escape enables us to endure the trial! Paul does not guarantee that we will be removed from the trial, but that we will be able to endure!

This is so practical! When I am tempted to be angry with my children for their disobedience, I can trust that the Lord will provide a way of escape that will allow me continue dealing with my children. How ridiculous to think that the Lord would remove me from that situation when what my children need is a parent to teach them to do what is right when they are doing what is wrong! If they see me run from the sin of anger, that is what they will learn to do. But if they see me endure it, they will learn to face their problems. As they mature, by the grace of God, they will see that they cannot be victorious over their sins and trials without Christ. They will see that the way of Christ is to endure, trusting in Him to be their victory! Thus Christ is glorified!

Now, why did I not continue with James 1? Didn't I start there? Well, I think that James 1 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 are parallel perspectives. Not only should I seek Christ's assistance in enduring trials, but James says that I should consider these trials ALL JOY!

OK, if you are not sitting down, you need to sit for the next paragraph or so. What would the church look like it we considered our trials joy? Imagine, for a moment, that my son is disobeying. If he sees daddy set his jaw and discipline with anger, he sees one example of a Christian in a trial. What if my son sees daddy disciplining with joy? Not that daddy takes joy in inflicting pain upon his son, but that daddy is joyfully dealing with this trial. Let's say that instead of talking intensely and with a stern tone daddy is talking calmly with joyful understanding. I have to think that this will make a greater impression on him. Now, there is a time for anger. We need to be righteously angry over sin. But even this is an opportunity to express joy in Christ! Maybe the joy comes with explaining to my son why I disciplined him and what the Lord says in His word about our situation. I have to believe that joyful obedience brings about more God-glorifying Christ-exalting results than angry obedience.

As I was thinking and praying this morning for some of our church family, I thought about being in their situation and how joy would be manifest. Quite honestly on one hand, I don't want to have to be in that position. On the other hand, if Christ is glorified through our trials, then we need to pray for them. The issue is not the trials, but our response to them. Paul did not care about his trials. He cared only for the proclamation of the gospel to the glory of God!

James is careful to inform us that trials have a beneficial end! Trials produce endurance, which in turn brings perfection and completeness! In other words, trials serve to make us like Christ! We need trials to be made Christ-like! The Inquisinator touched on this yesterday morning.

"Pure gold has been boiled and scraped."

What an excellent truth! What encouragement we should take from this! We should not focus on the hardship of the trial, but on the perfection in the result!

The beauty of gold does not come without pain
The boiling and scraping bring much gain
Refining and purifying come with fire
A perfect product the smith's desire.

With the ultimate end in mind, we should not run from trouble (unless commanded!) as the world and its effeminate males. Rather, let us face trials and sin with the Sword of the Spirit, trusting Christ and His word to bring about a God-glorifying victory!