An Opportunity for Joy
James, the half-brother of Jesus, couldn’t believe that his flesh-and-blood sibling was the actual Son of God—until He rose from the dead. Then, he was convinced. It was that same James who wrote:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”James 1:2-3 NLT
According to the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, James was eventually martyred for his confident faith in Jesus—his brother and his Lord.
Here are five things to note from James’ mini-sermon:
- First, the text says “WHEN troubles of any kind come your way…” It’s not if but when troubles come our way. We live in a broken world that has not yet been fully restored, so we shouldn’t be surprised when issues and challenges arise.
- Second, the text says “when troubles of ANY kind come your way…” Not merely justified trouble or undeserved trouble, but any kind of trouble. And even when troubles find you, it’s an opportunity for joy.
- Third, the text connects hardships with the testing of our faith. This doesn’t mean that God causes every challenge in our life, but He can certainly use them to reveal what’s inside. It’s in the refining that we’re made to look like Him.
- Fourth, the text says, especially during difficult seasons or situations, to “consider it an opportunity for great joy.” Happiness is dependent on circumstances, but joy is accessible no matter what.
- Fifth, the text implies that troubles, trials, or difficulties all create space for endurance to grow. Think of a flower: In order for a flower to grow, it has to go through something—that something being dirt.
So when you’re faced with hard things and can’t understand why, consider it an opportunity for great joy. That’s when you know that you’re growing and becoming more like Him.
Be encouraged: Happiness is dependent on circumstances, but joy is accessible no matter what.
Share your faith: If you’re up against something difficult today, remember: you’re being shaped. You’re being sharpened. And because of Jesus, you can choose joy.
Prayer: God, You are the source of my joy. Even when I face various trials, I can trust that You are using them to make me stronger. Thank You for stretching my endurance and strengthening my faith. I know You are always with me. Help me to see every day and every circumstance as an opportunity for great joy. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”James 1:2-3 NKJV
Note after sharing the devotional: if I’m being honest, I’ve had a rough past couple weeks, and the last few days have been quite rough. Circumstantially, things are fine right now. I am anticipating a job shift in the very near future. I have irons in the fire, including an interview I had late last week that I thought went quite well (still awaiting results as I write, although by the time this gets posted, I imagine that there will be some updates). But the big project has been what I’ve been calling “forgiveness journaling,” in which the going has gotten very rough lately. In the beginning of December, I sensed the Lord tell me of a very strong link between unforgiveness and my gut condition for the last decade, in which it had been gradually getting progressively worse. Conversely, real forgiveness, the type that is “from the heart,” as Jesus has said, would also play a major role in real healing and restoration of the same, as well as of the mind and emotions.
So I dove back into old memories from ten years ago that led up to the first flare-up which happened almost ten years ago, and the list of trials and spiritual attacks was kind of staggering. For about three months in a row (although there were other things before and since) I experienced a series of attacks and challenges that encompassed almost all major areas of my life: family stuff, friend stuff, girl stuff, and ministry stuff. It was relentless. Additionally, in the one place where I could go to get support at the time also came with drastic changes, some of which I look back and seriously question whether those changes were indeed for the better. I of course blindly trusted the process even when it didn’t make sense. The main consequence, when I look back, was that these changes, none of which were really in my control (except for maybe quitting group, which would have been extreme), prevented me from being able to actually process and work through the other items, you know, which is the whole point of therapy! So it’s Jesus and me now, and I’m suspecting it is for the best. Some things we cannot trust with other people that really should be reserved only for Him. (I would later encounter that, and only much more recently understand the depth of the ramifications of that!)
With His help, I’ve been able to break free from much of the cords that were tangling me. Recently, maybe a couple weeks ago now, I got an image of a view of a mall parking lot with a big department store building in the distance. It was night, and it was the dead of winter. In the distance, toward the entrance, there appeared to be a crowd of people walking to and fro in front of the doors (or at least it appeared that way, from all the way back where I was). I even was able to “zoom in” on the activity near the front of the store, mostly to ensure that there was no violence occurring (and there wasn’t). Around here I was then transported to a neighborhood playground, also still at night in the dead of winter. There was a slight breeze moving the swings gradually back and forth. Instantly my mind flashed back toward an era at a daycare that I have absolutely no memory of. It was then that I got the sense of the following:
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV
I came out of the vision after this point, but around this time the following Scripture was also placed before me:
“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”Luke 12:22-31 ESV
Whatever the joy is, it can be found here in what Jesus has said and continues to say in the above passage.
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