Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3
Life is so hard sometimes. When the trials of life come, we can find ourselves without words. Only pain, anger, or mind-numbing disbelief serve as companions. James tells us to “count it all joy.” How is this possible?
First, we must understand what James is and is not saying by looking at the original Greek. This verse is easy to read as “consider everything joy.” This is not correct. He is not inviting us to be happy all of the time.* In this verse, “all” describes “joy” not “it.” Meaning, James instructs us to to consider “it” all-joy… or said another way, “pure joy.”* The joy he speaks of is not happiness, but it is contentment in every circumstance.* It is an unwavering thankful trust in God that cannot be shaken.*
Second, we must know that God is not asking us to enjoy trials. Jesus did not enjoy the cross. The disciples did not enjoy the persecution that they endured. No, God is inviting us to look ahead, through the pain, and all the way to the promise. What is the promise? The promise is that the pain has a purpose. The pain moves us toward endurance.*
Endurance is seen as a virtue not as a passive waiting in weakness, but a lengthy faith walk that requires strength.* This is what trials birth in our lives. This endurance is a joy to receive.
Life is hard. James invites us to look past the pain and into the fruit of it. From looking ahead to the promised fruit, we can have joy. We do not deny our circumstances, but we look through them. The hallmark of genuine faith is to be able to look ahead to the promise without denying the pain of the present trial.* God isn’t into denying the pain of today for religious pseudo-happiness. He is into helping us to get through it. God is into using it for a purpose.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to endure - keep going - don’t quit. Perhaps today God wants you to look through the pain of your trial to the joy of the gift of endurance. Maybe today God wants you to allow yourself to genuinely grieve the reality of the difficulty that you are in.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 48–49). Zondervan.
McCartney, D. G. (2009). James (pp. 84–87). Baker Academic.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 1:2–4). IVP Academic.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 212–213). Zondervan.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 45–48). Zondervan Publishing House.