Consider it All Joy when you Fall into Various Trials

Life is hard. If you believe in God, love God, trust God, obey God, and live as the Bible says to live, life is still going to be hard. If you don’t believe in God or trust and obey him and don’t live as the Bible says to live, life is even harder. The Lord has never promised that living in this sin-filled, problem-plagued world would be easy for anyone.¹

The Unique Christian Perspective

James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”² James is writing to Christians (“my brethren”), so following Christ is not going to exempt us from facing trials. But notice what James does not say:

*  He doesn’t say to “feel” joyful. Rather, to “consider it all joy” is a cognitive choice.³

*  He doesn’t say “if” you fall into various trials but “when.”

*  He doesn’t say to intentionally seek out trials, but you will inevitably “fall into” them whether you want to or not.

*  He doesn’t say “perhaps” or “maybe” or “unwittingly” but “knowing.”

*  He doesn’t say these are problems you choose or bring upon yourself or can avoid but are faith tests.

*  He doesn’t say these trials produce a passive “tolerance” toward difficult circumstances but engender hearty and unyielding “endurance,” “fortitude,” “perseverance” [hupomonḗ].

What we need to learn from this timely and practical exhortation:

*  Don’t be surprised when trials come, and don’t get caught off guard.

*  Joy is not a feeling that is felt but an intentional state of mind.

*  No one enjoys life’s inevitable troubles, but as God’s children we can look beyond them and know it’s going to be okay no matter what.

*  We have divine reassurance that we’re going to be stronger and more resilient on the other end, able to face even more difficult trials and help others who are facing them as well.

*  As Christians—irrespective of our immediate family histories and environments—we have an extended church family, though not perfect, that is comprised of more good than bad, with mutual reliance on and support for one another.⁴

*  Most importantly we have the Lord on our side who has promised to never leave nor forsake us; he will carry us through all the way to the end to an everlasting home where pain, suffering, hardship, and loss will be no more.⁵

Conclusion

Like everyone else in the world, we will face trying times as long as we live on this physical earth. Unlike the rest of the world, we have a unique perspective in Christ with additional help and reassurance to get us through. Never give up hope, and never give up on the Lord.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Job 14:1; John 16:33; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:18, 35-36; 2 Cor. 7:4-5; Phil. 1:27-30; Col. 1:24; Rev. 1:9; 2:10; et al.

     ² Author’s own translation.

     ³ The verb hēgéomai means “to engage in an intellectual process, think, consider, regard” (BDAG 434).

     ⁴ Rom. 12:9-13; 15:1-2; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Gal. 6:1-2, 10; Eph. 4:29-32; Phil. 2:1-4; et al.

     ⁵ Psa. 46:1-3; Matt. 6:33; Rom 8:28-39; Heb. 13:5-6; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Rev. 21:4; et al.

Related Posts: Most Powerful Argument Against God? 

Related Presentations: James Dalton, FHU Chapel Talk 2-23-26, "Joy" [starts at 23:38]

 

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