Pure Joy!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Who in their right mind would consider it pure joy when facing trials? Actually, no one I know however that is only if you’re looking at trials based on worldly wisdom. Worldly wisdom sees trials as distress, sadness, despair and pain but scripture commands we should see such as an opportunity to build, to build our faith, to increase our endurance, to grow us up and mature us in the faith. Why? Because in this life you will have trials, they are inescapable.  

To consider trials as pure joy requires that you change your perspective on how you see them. Bad times aren’t always as bad as they seem and if you look back on the challenges in your life, you can see how you endured and gained wisdom to move forward. That’s the perseverance gained to continue moving forward. French theologian John Calvin said, “There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb your joy.”

It is enduring the afflictions of trials that increases our faith and moves us to intrinsic joy. “Pure joy” comes from Christ alone.