Facing Trials Part 1

Trials. This topic has been on my mind lately as I'm facing some biggies currently and it is a common word used in our Christian circles. We all go through them....big, small, medium....painful, not so painful, confusing....some are concrete, others more abstract....whatever it may be, as Christians we most likely know we'll face them at some point in time. Ugh. Just the thought of trials makes my heart feel heavy and stressed. But what does the Bible say about trials? Be stressed and upset? Cry and complain about them? Give up and feel sorry for yourself? Those of you that have read the Bible much at all should be almost laughing at this point, because that is definitely NOT what the Bible says about trials. The Bible actually takes a much different stance on trials:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-3

PURE joy. Not just joy...not a little joy...not joy in a few things....but PURE joy. Other translations say "count it all joy" (ESV, KJV) or "great joy" (Holman Christian Standard) or "nothing but joy" (NET Bible). Furthermore, God is calling us to have complete joy when we are going through trials, of all sorts! It doesn't matter whether you failed a class, wrecked your car, are going through a breakup, lost a loved one, lost a job, are being persecuted for your faith, whatever! Ok wait, let me get this straight...you want me to have COMPLETE JOY when I'm SUFFERING?!? I don't get it...this just doesn't fit with my westernized way of thinking. Stephanie, I'm looking for the American dream, not sorrow. Well let's break this down...

1. Joy vs. Happiness

First things first, let's confront a common misconception. Many people, when they read that verse, mentally substitute happiness for joy. That seems harmless enough, right? I mean, in our culture we often use them interchangeably. But just because we do that does not mean we should. In fact, these two words have a slightly different meaning....and if God had wanted to refer to happiness, you better believe He would have done so. One source I found defined the difference well: "In order to understand the lifestyle God desires for us, we need to know the difference between joy and happiness. Both can be defined as gladness, delight, and pleasure in something, but happiness has an external cause. When circumstances are favorable and delightful, we are naturally happy, but when events take a downward turn, so do our spirits. Joy, on the other hand, has an internal cause and is not dependent upon outside conditions. As believers, we can keep our contentment in good times and bad because our delight is in the Lord, not in our fluctuating circumstances. (http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_empowering_emotion_of_joy#.VI5xGXufJWM)." Another source puts it this way: "Happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people. Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. (http://www.gotquestions.org/joy-happiness.html)." Very similar words....very different meanings.  

In James 1, God is calling us to have joy, not happiness. I believe He wants us to be happy, what father wouldn't want his children to be happy?? But that's not what He's asking from us in these verses. Instead, He's telling us to have 100% joy despite the circumstances, which is much deeper than a fleeting feeling of happiness. 

2. When?

Ok....I get the difference between joy and happiness, but God really wants me to have that pure, unadulterated joy when I'm facing trials?!? Yes! You got it!! It's easy to have joy when things are good...you know, when things seem perfect with that boyfriend/girlfriend, you get that promotion at work, you pass a certification exam...those things are great and make us feel good. But what happens when you break up with that boyfriend/girlfriend, or lose that job, or fail that exam? What then? That's right...have pure joy. All these things are trials....things that God uses to test our faith and ultimately bring us closer to Him. (*Disclaimer*: Some hard times in our lives are simply consequences for things we've done in our past or a result of sin in the world. However, God can use even those situations to help us grow in Him. So I think it's safe to say we should have joy in those circumstances as well. :) Furthermore, have you ever considered that God just MIGHT have something better for you in mind? Sure, that boyfriend/girlfriend may have been an amazing Godly person....but there are a lot of those individuals in the world! God may have a much better fit for you in store. Heck, I don't know, only God can see that bigger picture! Or what about that job or certification exam? Maybe He has a better job? Or a better career for you? Something in which you can better serve Him? Only He can see that bigger picture of His plan...the plan that He's working out for His glory. We just gotta have faith, trust Him, and follow His leading. 


Such a simple verse...but so much meat to it! It completely goes against much of our American culture. Next time you're going through a trial, step back, take a deep breath, and think on this verse. Yes, it might be a horribly awful situation...but our heavenly Father has called us to have joy, even in those circumstances. We've looked at verse 2 telling us the what and when, but next time we'll take a look at verse 3, the why. And no, the why is not just "because God said so"...although I'd say that's still a pretty good reason ;)