Joy in the Trials

By: Melanie Moore

If you were to take a peek inside my prayer life, you would hear the phrases "Lord, please keep us safe", "keep us healthy", "protect us", "bless us", etc. What you probably won't hear in my prayer is "Lord, please send me trials."

Would any of us honestly wish for trials to come our way?

I know that if I had the choice to skip out on trials, I would certainly choose to fast forward right past them. Let's get to the happy part, and skip the sadness and tears. Would you agree?

However, in James, the Bible tells us to consider it a joyful time when trials come our way because it is in those moments that God works to mold our hearts and make us more like him.

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 1:1-2

The first thing I notice about this passage is that the Bible says to count it all joy "when" we meet trials, not "if" we meet trials. Many times, especially in the age of social media, it can appear that some people have perfect, trial-free lives. Meanwhile, in the background, we feel tears form in our eyes as we think about our own problems and failures.

Friends, trials come upon all of us, even those who may not share their trials with others.

James says to "count it all joy" when these trials happen. I have to stop and scratch my head and wonder why in the world James would want us to be joyful in times of trials. Trials seem to be the polar opposite of times of joy. However, if we keep reading, we see why we can be joyful in times of trials.

The testing of our faith produces steadfastness, which we know is an attribute of God. Therefore, trials lead to the testing of our faith which then produces a heart that is steadfast and molded to be more like God. 

Perhaps rather than praying for a trial-free life, we can ask God to give us hearts that are steadfast throughout each trial. We can pray for God's strength throughout the trial so that we can remain steadfast, and that God would fill our hearts with joy as we cling to his promises, especially in times of trials.

How is your trial producing steadfastness in your faith today? I'm praying that even if it is not today, that someday you will be able to count it as joy as you see how God worked in this very trial to draw you closer to Him.