“How can I find joy in the midst of trials?”…James 1:2-4

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

This is the very first thing James writes in his letter after his salutation. Why? Because of its import.

Many Christians think once they've made that decision for Christ that everything will fall into place and life will be that proverbial bowl of cherries. And when trials and tough times come upon them or continue, they begin to question, "why?" Wondering how they could possibly endure horrible circumstances and consider it joy. ……Peter also tackles this subject of joy through trials. …1 Peter 1:6-9 …So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

In both of these passages, we see the instruction of what we shoulddo. 'be truly glad rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy' Why? Because trials make us stronger. The James passage clearly states that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And the Peter passage states that our faith, which is priceless, will be proved genuine and result in praise to God.

But how? How can we find joy in the midst of all the junk, hardships, and painful circumstances?……First, we need to understand that joy is not the same as happiness.

Happiness comes and goes sometimes as often as waves hitting the shore. Happiness isn't something you can cling to when you've lost a loved one, or are facing bankruptcy.

Joy, on the other hand can stay with you for the long haul.

The reason? Real joy is from God. For the believer, it is like a bottomless well of water-always an abundant supply. Even in the darkest days, when sadness, grief, and loss may threaten to overwhelm you, God's joy is there.……Second, we need to understand that God's joy cannot be taken away. Oh, you might think that it's gone-that the hands of misfortune have snatched it from you-but it's not. As believers, we are promised the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. We are promised His joy. Just as our salvation is assured through Jesus' one-time sacrifice for all.

Jesus said

John 15:11

I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

More examples of joy from the Holy Spirit

Acts 13:52

And the believers[a] were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16:34

He (The jailer) brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Third, we need to stop wallowing, whining and complaining and grab onto God's joy. Just like salvation is a free and perfect gift from Him, we must reach out and accept that gift.

Grab onto it. Like a lifeline. Choose joy. Over bitterness, anger, and sorrow. Make a decision to choose joy every day. No matter what.

Look at these great examples in Scripture:

2 Corinthians 8:2-3…They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

1 Thessalonians 1:6

So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Always be joyful.

Hebrews 10:34

You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

How do we manage to be joyfull in the mids of trials?

Hebrews 12:2

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.

All through Scripture we see the persecution of the church, the trials, and hardships that believers have faced. The challenge then is to truly learn how to consider each trial joy.……This topic is very near and dear to my heart because it is a lesson I'm relearning each and every day, I've faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles, mountains of physical and spiritual trials, bankruptcy, and foreclosure.

But you know what I have discovered? God's joy really is there. You can consider each trial joy, you can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory even when you feel like you are face-first in the mud puddle. You can endure whatever circumstances are making you quake in your boots right now. If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ-you have all you need.……Grab onto God's joy.

John Nel 0824527155

E mail jmnelarch@gmail.com