Pure Joy: 7 Devotions in the Book of JamesSample

A Quest for Real Joy

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. JAMES 1:2-4 ESV

Everybody’s definition of joy is different. Some folks might light up in ecstasy as they take a zip line across a deep canyon. Others might instead throw up. Some people are elated when they speak in front of big audiences, while others consider this to be pure torture, so they, too, might throw up. Some individuals love eating chicken livers, and yet others—you guessed it.

Whatever your joys are, various earthly trials don’t usually make it on that happy list. But Jesus told us clearly, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV).

The bottom line is that tribulation is a part of this broken life, but no one wants to line up for any of it. We want life to be purpose-filled, chock-full of much love and many good things. A family, a nice home, and a good job. God sees these elements of life as joys, too, but He also wants us to know that trials can be counted as joy if we lean into Him and make full use of these trials for our growth and His glory.

Oh, yay. More of that painful, spiritual stuff. And yet many times, the people who have truly wowed us and challenged us and inspired us over the years were the people who have been through the deeper trials of this life. They gained some serious maturity—a divine steadfastness—and the miracle of it illuminated their lives. And ours.

What difficulties are we going through today that can be used as God’s wow factor in the future? To change us? To change the world?

Lord, help me to find a way not only to accept adversities that come my way, but even to count them for joy, knowing You will find a way to make me more like You in the process. Amen.