Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2–3, NASB)
Should we be filled with joy when suffering through trying events? Job lost his children, wealth, and health in a short period of time. How could one be joyful through such an adverse ordeal? James isn’t saying to feel joyful, but rather to “consider it all joy”. Why? Notice that the testing of our faith “produces endurance”.
It appears James’ inspired prescription to remedy impatience is trials. Trials are tutors that teach us our need and through our need we learn to depend upon God. Through dependency we learn to wait upon Him. Endurance becomes the pathway towards spiritual maturity. The context tells us that such maturity brings us to the point of “lacking nothing”. Paul, who encountered great adversity, declared, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). Contentment is a marvelous place to reside. We enter its abode when self is stripped and our full weight is placed upon God. It’s when we know, beyond a doubt, that we are in His will and no adverse wind can dislodge us from it.
Unfortunately, we tend to fixate on the troubles themselves. Doing so brings much worry. But as our faith matures, our eyes fix more and more upon Christ, not on the trials. We come to realize that Christ is with us in the calm and in the raging storms. Although Job struggled to understand the adversities that befell him, he trusted God throughout them. His faith endured. Through his ordeal, he came to know the power and care of God. The fiery trials purged his mind and heart of their dross, as he clung to his all-sufficient Savior. Job could consider his afflictions as all joy.
What if I can’t count the various trials hitting me as all joy? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.” Seek divine wisdom, and it will be given to you. In fact, it will be given to you “liberally and without reproach.” Our Lord will not rebuke you for asking. Rather, He will lavish you with wisdom to endure the trials. This, so you can count it all joy.
But we must “ask in faith, with no doubting”. Doubt moves us backwards; faith moves us forward. We can’t reach Christian maturity if we go back and forth between the two. This is having two minds, each opposing the other. The result of which is likened to a wave of the sea being tossed about by a strong wind. In doubt we flounder and become unstable. However, if our faith is fixed on our all-sufficient saviour, then our sails of endurance will be lifted high. We will make it to port, lacking nothing.
Do you find yourself in a troubled sea? Have faith and consider your trials as all joy. Know that God is sailing you closer and closer to his harbour.
