Key scripture – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” (James 1:2, ESV).

The first time you read James 1:2 did you say to yourself, “Do what?” In response to where it says: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Count it all . . . JOY? Those are the words James wrote, through the inspiration of God’s Spirit, but from our human perspective, it just doesn’t add up.

Pastor James McDonald says that perhaps that’s because we tend to confuse joy with happiness, and this verse does not say, “Be happy about your trials.” Happiness is a fleeting, circumstantial, in-the-moment, an excited feeling, an emotional high. Joy is very different. You can’t make yourself joyful. Joy comes only from God. Joy is a supernatural delight in the Person, purposes, and people of God.

Have you ever sensed God at work in you or seen His obvious hand in a situation and knew in your heart that God did that? Have you ever stared up into starry night and sensed your soul being eclipsed by the God who made it all? What you felt in that moment was joy in who God is.

Joy is also something we exchange as brothers and sisters in Christ, a oneness of heart. We all belong to the same Master, follow the same Book, are filled with the same Spirit and that is why we can experience a moving, connected, wonderful resonance with other Christians who we don’t even know; that too is joy.

A supernatural delight in the purposes of God means you know there’s something bigger going on here, something so far beyond the temporal that’s unfolding according to God’s plan, and you can take joy in God’s purposes.

Only Christ-followers would ever consider trials joy. If life is only about the here and now, and your happiness, then trials would make zero sense and be absolutely worthless. If all you are living for is the next fifteen minutes, then unfortunately those fifteen minutes of happiness are almost over, and you would have good reason to resent a fly in that ointment. But those of us who are committed to a higher purpose and see this short life in its eternal perspective can get our thinking to a place of joy—no matter what is happening.

Let’s get very practical with this. If you want to quit the pity party and get back on the joy train, then try this method. On three notecards, write the following:

1. What happened to me? On the first card, write the details of your trial.

2. How can this trial advance the purpose of my life according to God’s Word? On the second card, write what you can do today to advance the purpose of displaying the superiority of a life lived in God while you are in the trial.

3. What resources can I access this moment to help me? On the third card, inventory all that’s available to you as a follower of Christ: the strength and comfort of the Holy Spirit; the Word of God giving you wisdom to direct your path; supportive Christian relationships; the promises of God that are true and always come to pass; and the grace of God, which allows you to begin again when you fail. Think through how you can draw down upon those resources as you plow through this trial.

Then keep going over the cards so that God’s purpose in your life will not be lost. This is a practical exercise that will help you consider all your trials joy.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I know that You specialize in the outrageous, and in Your economy even trials can equal joy, but I need You to train me to accept that radical idea while I am going through my trials. Teach me what true joy is. Forgive me for chasing fleeting happiness. Help me to have an eternal perspective about how short my life is and that it is really all about: Your Kingdom; Your Glory; Your Will being done here on earth as it is in heaven. Give me today my daily bread—the resources that I need to endure the trials You’ve ordained for me. You have said that if I commit my ways to You and I trust in You, You will do this, You will make my righteous reward shine like the dawn, my vindication like the noon day sun (Psalm 37:5-6). You will use means that I do not even know about to bring me through this trial. You will remove my fears, and bring about Your purpose through this trial. You will take care of my reputation, and bring me out of this difficulty, not only with comfort, but with credit and honor. In due time, I know that You will roll away all that I am under, and bring forth my righteousness. Help me to take care to keep a good conscience and obey You , while I wait for You. I will leave it to You to lead me and to take care of me, my name and my reputation. Thank You that Jesus is enough for me, and it’s in His Mighty Name I pray, Amen.