Can You Find Joy In Life's Trials?

Can You Find Joy In Life's Trials? James 1:2-3

James 1:2–3 NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

May God bless the reading, hearing, and understanding of His precious Word. Let's have a word of prayer.

Let Us Pray

Confession of Faith: I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus' Name!

Intro:

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when we're facing challenges, but James reminds us that these trials are opportunities for our faith to grow and mature.

So this message is for those who are in a trial, about to go into a trial or just coming out of a trial! Let’s look at how we can find joy even in the toughest times and understand the purpose behind our trials.

James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

James isn't suggesting that we enjoy the pain and difficulty of trials, but rather that we recognize the positive outcomes they can bring.

Consider it pure joy: The word "consider" means to regard or to count. The word consider means to value or give weight to

James is calling Christ Followers, calling Christians, calling believers to adopt a specific mindset towards trials, not based on the immediate discomfort but on the ultimate benefit they bring.

James is telling us to think about trials in a certain way, not because they are painful at the time, but because they will be good in the long run.

So he says thinks about what you’re going through, consider it without being angry, without having regret, without bitterness! He said consider it Pure Joy!

The phrase "pure joy" suggests a complete and wholehearted joy, not mixed with any bitterness or regret.

Joy in trials is a counterintuitive concept, but it reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. I know, It seems strange to be happy during hard times, but when we do, I believe that it shows a deep trust in God's power and goodness.

These trials don't make us happy; I am not happy about the thing I’m going through, what makes you and me happy is knowing what God does through them. What God will accomplish in our life and in the life of those around us a result of the trial!

Consider it pure joy, means I make a deliberate choice to view my challenges through the lens of faith.

In First Peter, Peter address this mindset of going tchroug when trials and tribulations come upon you!

1 Peter 1:6–7 NLT

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 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.

This is another reminder that the current sufferings and trials are temporary in the grand scheme of God's eternal plan.

For some of us we may have already and will again suffer grief: The bible recognizes that Christ followers are going through, and that there is a reality and a pain in suffering! Some of us are going through things that have generate, confusion, deep sorrow and distress! In one translation the bible says because of all kinds of trials: As Christ followers, yes we are going through personal hardships, spiritual struggles, physical attacks on our bodies, lost of loved ones all kinds of trials. These are tests of our faith!

1 Peter 1:7 NCV

7 These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold, which can be proved to be pure by fire but will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to you.

When you are going through trials, it’s a test of your Faith! Just like fire tests and purifies gold, trials purify or faith and my faith and your faith will bring praise to the name of Jesus, My faith tested and your faith tested will bring Glory to God!

When the suffering is overwhelming, we must encourage each other to find the joy, we must remind each other to have the faith, we much disciple each other to rejoice despite in spite of the sufferings!

Why because this is temporary, this trial is only for a season! Having joy is not a denial of suffering but a recognition of the something bigger, the focusing on God’s promise of our inheritance in Jesus Christ!

Lean In

When I’m going through a challenge and the bible addresses the issue, I know that I’m not the only one who has been in this situation! There is joy in knowing that there is light on the other side! So I did a little more digging in the word and found out that Paul also addresses suffering

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Let’s break this down:

For we know - I know when I go through trials, I am learning perseverance, I am learning how to endure , I am learning how to be stead fast, then that leads to me building character - which means I have gone through something and I still have faith! The enemy can’t shake me, I have been tested and I still choose Jesus

So that test has developed my hope - Now, what you can’t take from me is my Hope ! See the trial gave me endurance, which strengthen my character and now I know and have a confident expectation of God’s promises! You can not tell me that God won’t change a circumstance, you can not tell me that God won’t fix it! There is nothing you can do to change my mind set, because I know he can do it! Won’t he do it!

See you and I get to this point in our walk when we have gone through some fires, You and I get to this point when we been in the storm, You and I get to this point when we didn’t know what to do and God made a way!

This hope is a confident expectation of God's promises. It is not wishful thinking but a sure and steadfast assurance based on God's faithfulness.

This hope is like a super power! This hope has come from a progression from suffering to confident expectation in God’s faithfulness! This suffering has become a part of my spiritual maturation. I’m not the same person - I use to be! Each step of my walk has built on the previous one, now i have joy because my a hope is robust and unwavering. My joy has a foundation of hope that has taken root in God’s promises, because I have seen them and experienced them for my self!

Let’s go a little deeper

Romans 5:5 NKJV

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

This Hope does not disappoint: This hope will not lead to shame or disgrace. As A Christ Follower, our hope is certain and reliable. Why? Because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts: My hope is grounded in my experience of God's love for me even when I didn’t deserve it! He "poured out" abundant and generously Through the Holy Spirit:

Ok Pastor - You preaching to me - how do i apply this

If you are struggling to find the Joy in your situation - do a Mindset Shift:

Instead of seeing trials as mere obstacles, view them as opportunities for growth and to deeper your faith and trust in Jesus faith. This perspective change can transform how you operate in your day to day!

Stat Committed

We must work on the Development of perseverance by staying committed to praying, reading the Bible, and fellowship with other christ followers believers.

Remember the goal

Remember that the ultimate goal of enduring trials is to strengthen your faith and deepen your relationship with God. Keep your eyes on the rewards that come from strengthening your faith.

Can I find Joy in Life’s Trials - the answer is yes!

May God Bless You and Keep you is my prayer!