Happiness in Trials (Part 1 of 2)

Introduction to James

The Book of James deals with practical Christian living. How do we live as Christians on a daily basis? How do we deal with problems that arise in life? This book provides a firm foundation for experiencing the issues of the world, our personal issues, home life, public life, and private life. There is always something we are experiencing—perhaps a quarrel or argument with a friend, family member, or someone in the body of Christ.

James equips us on how to respond to life's situations, especially in relation to our relationship with God. How do we glorify God in all things? This book is crucial for youth because it addresses being double-minded—literally, two souls or two lives. Many live a double life: one for the world and one for church. Around Christians, they live the Christian life. With secular friends, they live another life. Or there's a computer life or social media life, separate from the Christian life. James addresses these issues and more.

One of the most sought-after principles in life is how to live in any circumstance. James was written around 35 to 52 AD to Jewish Christians dispersed from their homes due to persecution, such as from the apostle Paul before his conversion and King Herod. He writes to the 12 tribes in the dispersion.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:1-8

Don't Get Comfortable—Count It Joy

The purpose of this introduction is: Don't get comfortable with where you are in life or maturity. Instead, be joyful at being more equipped than you currently are. You should not be comfortable every moment you are living in the present tense. Where you are right now is insufficient.

Charles Spurgeon said not to be comfortable with the degree of repentance you have. The Scriptures warn that he who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. Always be repenting. Even with theological training and discipleship, where I am is insufficient. Some of you are more insufficient than others—that's just how life is. We've all got to start somewhere and be diligent to grow. Some were recently converted; others longer ago. God has us where we are, but it's insufficient. There's always progression toward a better, more sanctified spiritual life.

We are presently insufficient emotionally, physically, spiritually. We are not fully sanctified in this life, though that's our goal. Don't be comfortable or get enjoyment from this present life to the degree that you say there's no need to advance spiritually. Too many are this way. If we're not diligent in our salvation, we give the impression we're comfortable where we're at, though not as Christ-like as we could be.

Instead, be disgruntled at the lack of spiritual progress. Exercise a conscious effort to enjoy difficult circumstances because you know what they produce: growth. James says, "Count it all joy, my brothers," to fellow Christians. Be joyful at the potential for a more equipped, spiritually mature you—more like Christ than five minutes ago.

Be happy at trials, times of suffering, adversity, pain, or depression. Consider it joy. This is an interesting way to start, especially to a dispersed congregation facing persecution. They were forcefully pushed from homes, facing danger and unfamiliarity. Yet James says: Don't be sad, be happy. Understand you're going through something difficult, but consider it joy.

He says "when you meet trials of various kinds"—not if, but when. The first-century reader was already in trial, yet James encourages joyful thinking. Typical reactions to suffering include confusion, anger, hurt, frustration, or questioning what kind of God allows this. But James says respond with joy, for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

The Purpose of Trials

Trials are like testing or temptation. There's no joy in responding negatively—that's sin. But consider trials joyfully, not as overwhelming or the end. Don't respond negatively. We're lacking in spiritual maturity and Christian character, so we need these experiences. God grows His people through trials, conforming them to better character.

Logically reason about trials correctly: God has a loving purpose. You'll miss the result if you have the wrong attitude. Many go through trials unchanged or worse because they lack joy and the appropriate response. Put forth a conscious effort to be happy during trials. Don't let them get you down.

This is counter-cultural. The world sees you as a victim, needing medication or coping strategies. But the Bible says this is in God's sovereignty, equipping you to be more like Jesus—perfect and complete, lacking nothing. You're lacking now; trials build spiritual maturity.

Participating in Scripture and discipleship grows knowledge, but wisdom applies it to circumstances. As Christians, regardless of circumstances—like Paul being stoned, bitten by a snake, crushed but not overtaken—we can experience trials with happiness. This doesn't mean being unreal about hurt, pain, or sadness. Be real, open, honest. Band together with brothers and sisters. Often, just being present is the greatest ministry—no words needed.

Counting it joy means consciously keeping in mind that the outcome is a you more like Christ. It seems like one trial after another, especially as you mature. Feelings come and go—base reality on truth, not feelings. You can think and experience with joy because it makes a better you.

Embracing suffering with joy takes practice. The more you respond correctly, the better you get. Trials are coming—when happy in them, they're not crushing or hopeless. You have God, who provides joy and the ability to apply biblical principles.

If you lack wisdom—the ability to know how to respond to life's circumstances—ask God, who gives generously.

The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom

In the Old Testament, Proverbs teaches that to fear God—to have this healthy, high respect and cautious living before Him—is the beginning of wisdom. Approach every circumstance of life cautiously: What would God want me to do here? How can I bring glory, honor, worship, and praise to God in this situation? That's the fear of the Lord in action.

Fast forward to the New Testament: Jesus Christ is your wisdom. He is the entire sum of all your wisdom should be. With Him, you have His life and every ability to have wisdom. God says something strikingly fantastic: As a child of God, His allowance to you is wisdom. He is infinitely rich in wisdom and wants to lavish it upon you. Ask of God, and He will give you wisdom liberally—more than you can handle.

Philosophy is a school of lovers of wisdom—philo (love) and sophia (wisdom). Entire schools and people across millennia have devoted their lives to studying wisdom, trying to understand life fully. From young to old—even at 29—you have access to what philosophers craved but never found: an infinite source of wisdom. This gives you the advantage to know how to live, respond to circumstances, live correctly, and experience joy in any situation. You have the greatest—and really the only—source of true wisdom, founded in God. All you have to do is ask.

It should be a daily occurrence: Ask God for wisdom, one of life's most significant resources. It's thoroughly available, and He gives abundantly from His infinite storehouses—generously, without reproach. He's not going to fault, belittle, or mock you for lacking wisdom. He simply grants it.

Ask in Faith, Without Doubting

Verse 6: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting. If you doubt, you'll never receive wisdom. Your life will be in complete chaos. Approaching God in prayer, saying, "Whatever, Pastor Jeremy said I can get this infinite wisdom, but I don't see how," means you won't receive it.

It's offensive when people doubt my counseling ability—"Can you handle that?"—because I have the sufficient Word of God. Or in web design, "Do you know how to do that?" I've built search engines and social media sites. Think of asking the infinite, sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent God—who spoke the universe into existence—to doubt He can give you wisdom. Consider Solomon's wisdom before he went astray. Christ is even wiser, and He's your wisdom. You can have that experience if you don't doubt.

A doubter is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Approaching God doubting makes your life out of control—like a soccer ball or ping-pong ball in a tournament. Like Peter stepping onto the sea: Focused on Jesus, he walked; focused on waves, he sank. Doubt shares roots with "double"—double-minded, living a double life: wanting Christ yet pursuing other things amid horrible circumstances.

Picture a dinghy in a hurricane—tossed everywhere. Instability amid trials overtakes you. Many doubt in trials: "I doubt this is for my good. I doubt God's sovereignty will produce good." That doubt brings more chaos. Faith is confidence and trust that God works for your good and His glory, providing wisdom to equip you fully. Doubt that, and you miss the blessing.

Closing Considerations

Expect trials to happen. Don't fall into versions of Christianity promising only good things—financial stability, wealth, health. God wants you like His Son and gives joy through every circumstance. The last thing to do in a trial is respond sinfully. Live in a reverential posture: "Lord, grant me wisdom from Your abundance to endure."

Trials build steadfastness—endurance. Every time I exercise, it's pain: motivation, shoes, running, heart exploding like in Aliens, pulsing eyeballs, sore muscles. But endure, and you become a health nut enjoying runner's high—joy from endorphins. Imagine enduring so much that adversity feels like a runner's high: joyful amid strain, sweat, difficulty.

Fight the trap of reacting as you feel—"This is how I'm experiencing it; nothing I can do." You're the only one preventing joy in adversity. You have salvation, the almighty God in loving relationship—everything for joy. Don't let circumstances or the world define you; you're God's child.

Never approach any circumstance without confidence in God. He never fails in His purpose or takes time off. "Oops, God missed that trial"—never. Confidence in Him blesses beyond measure.