Whatever It Takes

     How is joy possible in the midst of trials? We’ve been thinking about this in our Bible study in James on Thursday nights. God’s Word is full of surprises like this one. When James tells us to count the presence of trials in our lives as joy, you initially want to ask, “Why does God always ask us to do such hard things?” – because such a response to hardship seems so difficult. Trials come in all shapes and sizes. We used a ski trail analogy this past week (green circle is easy/beginner, blue square is more difficult/moderate, and black diamond is very difficult/”expert”) to think about our own trials. Do you have any “black diamond” trials going on in your life right now? James says to you, “Count it all joy.” He does not say “Enjoy them.” He doesn’t say that trials are a joy. Nor does he teach a “Don’t worry, be happy!” message.

Basically, James communicates to us that, in God’s hands, trials will produce something that will ultimately be good. Every trial we undergo (light and heavy) is a test of our faith. It is a make it or break it opportunity (with regard to faith). But God’s plan for testing our faith is intended to bring about perseverance and, beyond that, maturity, or Christlikeness. Becoming like Jesus is the real source of joy. So, when we say we want to be like Jesus, part of that is welcoming trials. Would you ever pray a prayer that went like this: “Lord, do whatever it takes in my life to make me like Jesus. Amen!”? That is a great prayer. But it’s a challenging prayer. Certainly we want to be like Christ, yet we must remember that Jesus told his disciples it would be a rough road for any who would follow after Him. But being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and looking forward to being with Him in eternity is greater than anything we face in this life.

When you think about all that Christ underwent on the cross – the physical pain, but most of all the spiritual weight of bearing the Father’s punishment for our sin – it’s hard to imagine the possibility of Him finding any joy in that. But for Christ the hardship was not the joy. It was the result of the hardship that was His joy. I think that is a model for us, for James is teaching that it works the same way in us. There’s an old Gospel hymn by Esther Rusthoi I used to sing when I was younger, with the words, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”

While trials are never easy, I cannot imagine life – with its trials – without Christ. As hard as it can be to make sense of heartaches, tears, separations, disappointments, and pain as a Christian looking forward to eternity, how desperately sad it is to think of people trying to make sense of trials and trying to get through them without the kind of hope we have in Jesus! No wonder people turn to so many harmful things and distractions to escape or to “medicate” their pain. But Jesus bore our pain on the cross – as bad as it may be. As difficult as the trials are – Jesus not only understands, but He intercedes. He carries us through and helps us to persevere, if we trust Him. Christ has overcome the world – including all the trials a person might ever face. And the end result He has in mind for us (completeness in Him) is worth reckoning the trials for joy.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV) ²  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

John 16:33 (NIV) ³³  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

2 Timothy 3:10-12 (NIV) ¹⁰  You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹  persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹²  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

PRAYER:  Lord, do whatever it takes in my life to make me like Christ. May your grace be sufficient for every trial I face. May my faith grow strong through the trials. Let me share in the joy of Christ, and may my vision see through to the end you have in store for me. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott