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.
(Jas. 1:2-4)
If we have trouble finding joy in times of trouble it may be because we see only the command without the foundation beneath it. James not only tells us what to do—“count it all joy”— but why we should want to...
“For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…” We may tend to think of each trial we face as a test of sanity or a mere survival situation. However, we should view every trial as a test of faith. Do we really believe what we say we believe? Do we really believe God is who He says He is…as measured by our trusting Him with uncertain and difficult circumstances?
The product of exercised faith is steadfastness, the ability to bear up under the pressure of difficulty. In other words, the result of trial-exercised faith is the ability to more ably trust God in future trials.
For any muscle to grow, it must be progressively overloaded. It must work to the point of exhaustion. Likewise, when we consciously exercise faith through a trial, it has its intended affect of making our faith stronger. We realize that God actually is who He says He is. He can be trusted. He will come through for us again in the future. As a result, the next trial will be met with stronger faith than the previous.
James does not intend to convey that trials in themselves are joy-inducing. Rather, trials produce something that is joy-inducing--steadfastness. It is enjoyable to see and experience more of God through the exercise of faith and to have a growing confidence in Him. But the real prize of steadfastness is what steadfastness produces--Christlikeness.
When James writes, “and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” he is giving a descriptive picture of becoming like Jesus. To become like Jesus is to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing in our character and conduct. We may fail to see the value in this, but given that trials in this life will continue until the end (John 16:33; Jas 1:12), consider how much better it would be to endure them with the perfect character of Jesus?
Think about your most recent, heavy trial. How would that experience have been different if you had been perfect in love? Perfect in joy? Perfect in peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-control? To be like Jesus is to be able to handle anything well. As I read the Gospels, I am amazed by Jesus, who was fully human, yet endured trials of various kinds with incredible strength and joy. Who wouldn’t want that?
If we would take James seriously, we should maintain a constant pressure on ourselves to desire the perfect character of Christ:
In preparation for possible trials, we should keep a regular habit of prayerfully studying/meditating on Christ in the Gospels and epistles, developing a desire to be like Him. Consider the trials He faced and how He faced them. What difference did His character make? Was He like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind? Or was He steadfast? Did trouble seem to roll off His back? How did His various character qualities manifest in times of trial?
In the midst of a trial, we should be prayerful and sober-minded, asking important questions. How is my faith being tested? What do I believe about God? If I truly believe it, how will I live/act/respond? We should also strive to maintain a vision for Christlikeness. How would this situation be different if I were just like Him? How can I press into fellowship with Him to be energized to endure this trial?
In the wake of a trial, we should prayerfully look back and see how we handled the pressure. Did we exercise faith or avoid it? How did the Lord make us stronger? Were we able to maintain a vision for Christlikeness? For what growth should we praise the Lord?
If you are in a season of trouble now, it is not too late. Look to Christ both for strength and to develop a vision for perfection. What a wonderful gift to become like Him. Rejoice in light of the work being done in you as you exercise faith in Him during this time!
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