In the Book of James in the bible Chapter 1 verse 2 - 3 it says, “2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” This exhortation has been one of the biggest challenges in my life as a worshiper of Jesus Christ. I have failed time and time again in considering my trials “PURE JOY.” As a matter of fact I have probably failed in doing this most of the time.
One of the reasons that we fail in this area of our walks with Christ is a miss understanding of what this passage means. See, I have often thought that somehow as a believer filled with the spirit of God I should be happy all the time, even when I face trials? So, when I face a trial and I am “NOT HAPPY,” anyway so to speak, I have felt at times like maybe I was doing something wrong in my relationship with God.
The reason for that is because I have associated the word Joy with the word Happy and they are not always the same thing. Jesus himself faced one of the greatest trials in human history when he was crucified on the cross. It’s pretty obvious from what we read about Christ in Gethsemane prior to the crucifixion that what was to come terrified him. He even prayed that God would take that burden He would bare. You could hardly say that Christ was Happy about the trial he was about to go through. I hope to encourage you today by clarifying this scripture a bit!
What is the difference between happiness and joy? Happiness is most often an emotional response that we have when we experience something. It’s a feeling we have. I feel happy or I don’t feel happy. That’s not to say that we can’t at times choose to be happy even when we face trials but, it can be very difficult to “be happy” when we are weary, sick, in mourning or suffering from other various things.
Joy can be experienced as a result of happiness but it is not dependant on happiness. Joy is experienced when faith is practiced and faith can be practiced through and in all things. Joy is understanding that God is in control, that there is hope in all things through Jesus Christ, that when we are weak, He is strong, that our trials will build us up. Joy comes when we praise God in out toughest time knowing that our understanding is fallible but his plan is perfect! Joy comes when we rest in complete submission to God’s will. Again, that doesn’t mean you will FEEL happy, but there is a peace that comes with faith in Christ that surpasses all understanding.
What are the trials you face today? If your like me and my family, we are struggling a great deal financially right now. I don’t suppose any one else out there is? I say that rhetorically of course! You might be mourning the loss of someone. Maybe your out of work, you are sick, in pain, in a broken relationship. What is your trial? What has your response to your trial been? Have you been questioning if God is even there? Have you been losing hope? Have you stooped in such sorrow that you can barely move? Maybe your like me, I struggle with anxiety and depression in a major way and I tend to just shut down. There is a better way, the God way!
I want to encourage you and say, “you can experience “Pure Joy,” in your trial." If you are growing weary in your trial, step out in faith and submit all that you are, even your trials over to Christ. Recognize the things that we talked about as absolute truth; that is: GOD IS IN CONTROL AND HAS NOT ABANDONED YOU! Draw strength from that TRUTH and bow down in worship, in total surrender to God and experience your faith and the peace God offers on a whole new level. You will see God’s work in your life and in the life of others through you in a mighty, powerful, supernatural way!
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
