Still thinking about suffering and persecution in the Lord. Trials and suffering aren't any fun. One of my pastors is currently taking us through the book of James. James tells us to consider it joyful when we go through trials. Water-skiing is a joy. Playing with my dog is a joy. Losing one's livelihood, suffering a debilitating illness or grieving for the loss of a loved one or friend... how do we consider those things a joy? That is the point I think. The trial, the suffering itself is not a joy of course, but we can see them as a reason for joy, if we put them through the proper filter.
Someone might be asking, "How do you do that? What filter?" If one goes to a psychiatrist, one would likely be told that they were in denial if they saw anything remotely joyful about the trials they were going through. Might even want to have one committed. (laughing here)
Greetings.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
What James does not say is, "I want you to deny any of the pain your suffering causes you. I want you to deny that you are really struggling through right now." He doesn't say, "Dull your suffering down by escapism of all kinds," either. What he does do is encourage us to pay attention to what is going on in our lives. James wants us to do that because of what God may do in and through us and our lives. The resulting outcome is the material point. Rolling with the punches is fine when you are in a fist-fight, but we don't just want to minimize the "hits". We want to be able to endure through strengthening from Jesus.
Firstly, regarding as joyful the fact that we go through trials is meaningful, but we should actually take it farther, and view even the trials in the light of joy. That is not always easy to do. Are we actually to welcome difficulties when they come? I certainly don't look forward to being tried again when I have come out of one. But I kind of look at it as passing a test. I want to pass the test, because I don't want to have to take the test again. So in that sense, my heart should be open to the idea of coming trials with a sense of acceptance because God is using the trial, writing it into my life to make me the person He wants me to be, but more importantly to accomplish His perfect will and glorify His name. At least, that is what I believe James is saying.
He says to count it all joy, not count some of it joyful. We should be compounding joy with joy, and without bitterness. Why though? (laughing here) I know that is the question on many people's minds when they read those words. Why should we count it all joy? That gets back to knowing that trials change us, and accomplish good things.We may not see them now, or even have any clue what that accomplishment may be. Regardless, in some way, when we are tested, and when we pass that test, we should look a little more like Jesus than we did before when it comes to being obedient, patient and enduring. In other words, being tested is a way that God may use to mature us and complete us, building us up in a pure and undefiled faith.
If we lack anything, it may be that we have failed our testing, and we must take the test again. Jesus suffered much in trials. If we want to grow in Him, to have a more intimate relationship with Him than we already have, and if we want to reflect His persevering heart as we sojourn through life, then we have to learn to welcome trials with joy when they come. Ultimately, if we remain alive or not, those who know us will benefit. Those unsaved around us, and those within the body of Christ.
There is something else though that helps us to rejoice under the circumstances of trial, and that is that God is going through those same trials with us. We know that we aren't suffering merely for some "thing", but for and with God. In our way, when we have a godly attitude, we are suffering at the nail-pierced feet, the blood-stained body of Christ. He is in control, and He will see us through it, carrying us with His own nail-scarred hands.
Mature fruit doesn't just grunt and then pop onto a branch. It takes good soil, nurturing water and heat from the sun. If we are experiencing no real difficulties or suffering in life, should we be upset? I wouldn't be. (laughing here) I would consider myself blessed and be very thankful to the Lord for that too! But if we are walking through fire, then we need to meet the experience with the knowledge that only the Lord God can orchestrate it into something that will serve His purpose and glorify His name. We need to know that Jesus will use our mistakes as well as our triumphs to work out His great plan in our lives, knowing all the while that if we abide in Him, nothing can separate us from Him and His love.
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