Consider it joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

Hard times are hard. Trials are not fun – just ask some current Year 12 students if you’re unsure. To consider trials joy seems nonsensical. To “count it all joy” seems ridiculous.

There are many other things that we could easily consider trials to be – awful, miserable, difficult or horrible. We could count it as pain, gloom or doom.

But we do have a choice. We cannot always control or predict or make the trial stop but we can choose the way we look at the trial. It is easy and even attractive to be swallowed up in negativity as we consider and describe a difficult time.

And we can choose to focus on the benefit of the trial, that is, the growth that takes place in our faith and perseverance. No trial is fun, but by focussing on the good fruit that it will bring, we can consider it joy. It is a posture of faith, to believe that there is a point to the pain even when we can’t feel it.

I couldn’t say that I’ve ever considered a difficult season in life pure joy, but with a bit of perspective I can see what I’ve gained from them. Now and then when I’m going through a trial, when I can see clearly, I start to be able to consider it joy. When you can feel that sense of hope it is easy to face the trial or fight the battle, and it becomes easier to trust the One who will see you through it.

You decide how you will consider the trial. You get to choose.

Can you think of a benefit from a difficult time from your past?