Joy in Trials
James 1:2–4 | Caleb Suko
Introduction:
The 2nd time I visited Ukraine was in 1995. I came with my father and a few men from our church. We spent our time working to build a Bible school here in Odessa. When I went to leave somehow I ended up being the last one to go through passport control and customs before getting to the flight. The officer began to question me, then he asked me to open my bags. He rummaged around and didn’t find what he was looking for. Then he asked to look in my wallet. There to his pleasure he found around 1,000,000 coupons (the currency at that time.) That amount seemed large but it was only the equivalent of about 7 USD. He pulled it out of my wallet and exclaimed, “Dis is a very BIG PROBLEM!”
“Really?! 7 USD could be a very big problem?!” I thought to myself. He then grabbed my passport and stuffed it into my shirt pocket and said, “Follow me!” I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was that my dad and the team I was with had already entered the gate area to wait for the plane and they couldn’t turn around now.
There was no time to think, I didn’t know if I should ask for mercy or if I should yell my last “goodbyes” to my father who was desperately looking through the glass with questions in eyes. The officer led me out of the customs area, past security and back into the main airport hall. Thankfully, the Odessa airport was small so we didn’t have to walk far.
Once into the hall he led me to a small kiosk that was selling some candies and drinks. The officer looked at me, smiled and then waved his hand towards the sweets. “Buy something,” he said. At that point I was willing to part with my money quite easily so I grabbed a few chocolate bars and a few bags of MnM’s. I thought, “this will be a good treat on the flight.” The officer then led me back to the customs area where to my surprise there were half a dozen other custom officers waiting for me. I quickly dumped my pile of goodies on the table and was about ready to load them into my backpack when the guy in charge put his hand on my shoulder and with his other hand pointed out all the smiling custom officers surrounding me. “It’s time for lunch,” he told me.
That was it, I understood what I was supposed to do. I grabbed my candies and dutifully handed each officer a treat. They smiled, and they let me on my way!
Small problems are big problems when you’re a foreigner!
I’m sure you have experienced some problems, some difficulties as a foreigner here in Ukraine. Unfortunately sometimes our problems are multiplied just because we happen to be in a foreign country! Today we will talk about how to deal with those hardships and how to react to problems in our life so that they do not steal your joy or defeat your spirit.
The book of James is a letter written specifically to people living in foreign countries. We find in this letter helpful and practical advice for everyday living in a foreign country. James loses as he begins to write his letter, he goes straight for the difficult issues, straight to the throat. We have to appreciate how James tackles difficult issues head on. He doesn’t make any excuses, he doesn’t waste his words, he simply tells it like it is.
James 1:2–4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything..
These words are not easy to swallow. They are uncomfortable for us and yet at the same time when we understand them they can and do bring great comfort, encouragement, and strength in times of discouragement, disaster, and dismay.
I’m glad James wrote these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, because if I had written them they would say:
“Consider it our joy, my brothers, knowing that you are already mature and complete, not lacking anything!
Now wouldn’t that be a nice sermon?!
Sadly, that is exactly what is preached in many churches and what is believed by many Christians. Many Christians spend their lives running from suffering, trying to avoid it, and looking for ways to get rid of it! Entire industries survive because of it. We spend billions on eradicating it from our lives.
Products are sold
Sermons are preached
Pills are prescribed
Counselling is given
Escape mechanisms are sought
All with the purpose of avoiding the unavoidable, all with the hopes of living a suffering free life! But so few face suffering head on has James instructs us here. So few have learned to embrace joy in suffering and see Jesus in it, and beyond it.
The longer I live and the more I study God’s Word, the more I’m convinced that one of the greatest weaknesses of our churches is a lack of a practical Biblical theology of pain and suffering. Too many have come into the Church believing unbiblical promises about the Christian life. They have been lured into the Church, if that were possible, with dreams of success, health, and an easier life.
Sometimes it’s helpful to look back into church history where we can find a more robust and Biblical teaching on suffering.
Jonathan Edwards resolutions on Suffering
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
June 9, and July 13, 1723.
Unfortunately, not many today have this bold unflinching view of suffering and trials in their lives. Without a strong Biblical understanding of suffering we have no foundation to stand upon when suffering does come. Honestly, I don’t like to admit that I will probably face greater hardships in my life. I don’t like to preach and tell others that suffering will find its way into their life.
But more than I don’t like the suffering, I despise dishonesty. Too many in the Church have been deceived about suffering. They have been told that if their faith is strong enough then they will avoid suffering but this is not true.
False prophets have promised false peace and prosperity: The prophet Micah recognized it 2500 years ago!
Mic 2:11 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be the preacher for this people!
As we look at the book of James, let us not look for a god who will remove all temporary suffering but to one who can give us eternal joy in the face of suffering. To Jesus Christ who suffered more than any of us and yet came through it with joy. Let us look to the worth of God’s Word and the goodness of his glory, in which we will find joy in suffering and peace in trials.
Let us let’s turn our attention back to the instructions James gives us.
James 1:2–4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James opens his letter with the firm strike of an iron smith’s hammer, he brings his hammer down square upon our hearts, our misguided expectations, and our foolish world view! If we simply go back to verse one we can see why James’s abrupt introduction was necessary.
Jas 1:1
1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
Acts 8:1 tells us that the Church was scattered here because of the persecution of Paul. The early believers must have been in somewhat of a confused state.
Jesus came and rose in popularity, Jesus suddenly was put to death, Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus promised his followers power. The first questions the disciples asked was “Is this the time when you will restore the Kingdom?” Acts 1:6
Jesus rose into heaven and the angels said he would return the same way. The early believers had expectations that this would happen shortly and then persecution began…
James is probably the first epistle written and one of the reasons it was written was to answer the question.
“Why do we have these trials and what should we do about them?”
James answers this question in chapter 1 and especially here in verses 2–4. He tells us what we can do, how trials benefit us and helps us to change our minds about trials.
Consider: Our mindset, how do we think about trails?
The word “consider” is in other texts translated as “to lead” “to govern.”
In this context however it refers to leading our own thoughts. It indicates a conscious decision to think about something in a certain way.
What do you think of when you think of suffering?
Is it something to avoid at all costs?
Is it something you think shouldn’t happen to you?
It is vital that we have the right mindset about suffering even before we enter it. Once we are in suffering emotions can easily overcome us. Suffering makes it harder to think clearly. Our human tendencies will always lead us astray in suffering.
One of the ways we do this is by simply looking to the example of Jesus!
Heb 12:2
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
“Looking” means more than simply looking at a picture of Jesus on the cross. The original Greek word here literally means “to look away from one thing and towards another.” It is speaking about the focus of our minds and hearts in our trials and sufferings. What do we find ourselves thinking about. We must lead our minds, we must guide our thoughts, we must turn our attention intentionally and often toward Christ Jesus.
I really hate running but every once in a while I find myself running a mile or two. Good runners learn to not think about the pain in their legs and throughout their whole body as they race. Instead they turn their attention to their family, to their goals, to the reason why they are in the race. Having the right mindset can change the outcome of the race and help them push through.
This is similar in the Christian life but far more powerful. When I focus on my problems, when I begin to think that it’s unfair that this happened to me, when I start to become jealous of others who have a better life, I will always lose focus of Christ and I will soon lose my will to continue on. I will quickly grow bitter, cold, and weak as a Christian!
However, when I learn to led my mind towards Christ, towards the truth of what he’s done for me, toward the fact that his Holy Spirit is with me, towards the glory of what he is doing in my life, then I gain true spiritual strength that doesn’t always immediately free me from my suffering but will always give me the strength to face it head on and get through it with God’s help.
Learn to see the joy in your trials
I want to be careful how I say this because I don’t want to belittle anyone’s suffering who will hear my words.
There is great suffering in the world that I have not lived through and I hope that I will never have to live through. My suffering cannot compare with the tremendous and unspeakable suffering of millions of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Yet, by faith in God’s Word and by my limited experience I can tell you that the Christian is the only person on the face of this planet who can have
ALL joy in ALL trials
We are so tempted to put limitations on our joy!
Partly because we don’t understand real joy. Partly because we don’t trust God. Partly because we still live under the deception that Biblical joy is dependent upon our physical, temporal, health, and financial circumstances.
Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.
-John Piper
Unlike worldly pleasure or comfort which depends solely upon your relationship to your immediate circumstances, Christian join depends entirely and solely upon God’s presence in your life!
Christian joy is a great weapon in your spiritual arsenal dear Christian! Please use it often!
Find joy in the presence of God
Find joy in the truth of his Word
Find joy in the fellowship of other believers
Find joy in praise and song
Find joy in knowing that your faith is directed toward an Almighty, Unchanging, Everloving, God!
Find joy in believing that God will use your suffering for his glory!
1Pe 1:6–9
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
3. Know what your suffering will produce in you
James 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
When you don’t have answers for why you are suffering go back to what you know from God’s Word. We need reminders.
What do we know?
God tested Abraham and he’s the epitome of faith, so if he’s testing us that must be a good sign. God’s tests are meant to prove our abilities to God but His abilities to us. Without testing it is unlikely that our faith will grow, yet God never gives a test without also giving the grace to pass the test.
4. Don’t run from your trials
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything..
You can’t outrun suffering in this life. You can’t outrun sorrow. You can’t outrun pain. What you can do is face it head on armed with God’s Word and the knowledge that God will use this in your life to mature you, strengthen your faith, and equip you for the road ahead.
A weight can be viewed by some as a limited factor. They try to avoid lifting that weight by running from it not realizing that it is chained to their ankle. If they only changed their perspective they could think of the weight as a tool to strengthen their body. As long as it is just being dragged behind and you are going in the other direction that weight will not help but only hinder you. However, if you pick it up you’ll immediately find it easier to move around. If you begin to intentionally lift it you will find that over time it will get easier because you will grow stronger.
The Christian must look at all his trials as opportunities for growth. This requires patience, perseverance, and time. Growth comes with “TUT” Time Under Tension. Lots of time with no tension will produce no growth. Lots of tension with no time will produce no growth. You need both. The problem is that most people go into the gym and after a week don’t notice the change so they give up!
Don’t give up in your spiritual walk, learn to take the long perspective on life. Learn to accept each trial and a growth opportunity. The more trials and suffering you go through while looking to Jesus the greater your spiritual growth. The problem is that we want out too early.
Conclusion:
How do you think about the difficulties in your life? Do you recognize that God can use them for your own good? God teaches us many things through our trials.
To wait eagerly for glory (Rom 8:18)
To pray (Rom 8:26)
To hang tightly to God’s love (Rom 8:35)
To comfort others (2 Cor 1:7)
To acknowledge the reality of our own weakness (2 Cor 11:29)
To boast in Jesus (2 Cor 11:30)
To become like Christ (Phi 3:10)
To declare the gospel boldly (1 Th 2:2)
To be steadfast (Jam 1:3–4)
To cease from sin (1 Pet 4:1)
To rejoice (1 Pet 4:13)
To glorify God (1 Pet 4:16)
What is God teaching you in your current trial?
