Rejoicing and Giving Thanks During Trials
No one likes to talk about rejoicing or thankfulness during a trial. We would much rather stay in denial, wishing things were better and hoping that if we squeeze our eyes shut long enough, the problems will just go away.
James 1:1-16 deserves a fresh read. Here, the author tells us to be joyful during trials because of the spiritual fruit it produces (I don't know about you, but my flesh rebels against that idea!). James goes on to encourage us to ask for wisdom during trials, which is really good advice, considering that we can make some pretty catastrophic decisions while under stress. He tells us that we are "blessed" (read: "happy") if we endure trials because there's a crown reward to be had. Near the closing of the passage, there's a warning to place blame where it belongs: during a trial, we are tempted to blame God; but our own flesh desires relief so earnestly that we are capable of making abominable choices. Lastly - and this is important: - we are exhorted to know the truth: every gift is from God, who doesn't change. Ever.
How do "gifts from God" fall into a passage regarding trials? Is there something we missed? Is Scripture being audacious? Furthermore, how does being "blessed" or "happy" fit in with a macabre scenario? We'll come back to that.
Bible directives (commands) instructing us to "give thanks" and "be joyful" seem to mock us in our misery:
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (James 1:2-3)
"Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess. 5:18)
I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little uncomfortable. Is it hot in here to you?
Here's my first reaction to a trial: I cry out to God for help and relief. God is glad to hear that prayer; He wants me (us) to draw near to Him, and sometimes it takes a trial to help us realize that. But God would have more for me and you: He would like for us to cooperate with His purposes, believing in His goodness and sovereignty and trusting Him for the outcome. That's where thanks and joyfulness come into the picture.
If we take James 1: 1-16 as a complete, unsegmented passage, we have to realize that trials are gifts from our Heavenly Father, Who never changes. Ever. He doesn't randomly dispense heartache and happiness for His children based on capriciousness or even our performance. Trials are one of God's blessings, part of the Christian journey, part and parcel of our fallen world where sin resides. They may come about as a result of our choices or maybe as the result of someone else's choices. In any and all cases, trials are a gift (gulp) from God to mature us, to draw us closer to Him, to get rid of extra "baggage" in our lives, to help us prioritize more wisely. Without them, we may not develop a dependence upon and closeness with God. Trials, when endured patiently, produce good fruit. The flesh is resistant, but the Holy Spirit is persistent!
Just so you know I haven't lost my marbles, let me acknowledge two things:
Thanking God for trials will not make them feel better.
Not thanking God for trials will not make them go away.
Thanking God in the midst of a trial, FOR the trial shows a depth of maturity and spiritual growth that displays hope in God for the outcome, and trust in our loving, sovereign savior. "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10) It is just as reasonable to thank God for a trial as it is to thank Him for comfort, provision, love, or any other request. Thanking God in trials is an act of the will that exemplifies our faith (granted by God's grace). We don't have to understand the trial in order to give thanks for it.
Here's another thought: has it occurred to you that your trial may not even be about you? Perhaps it is being used for others, or for a higher purpose God has in mind. (Think JOB here.)
Things we can be sure of in trials:
*God is strengthening us (Is. 41:10)
*Jesus is praying for us (John 17:20-23)
*The Holy Spirit is with us (I Cor. 3:16)
*God is investing my current struggle in/for future ministry. (I Peter 5:10)
*Trials now result in glory later (2 Cor. 4:17)
On the other side of the trial, we will be able to look back and praise God: "Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." (Ps 42:5)
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2020 Julianne Knapp. First published 6.9.20
James 1:1-16 deserves a fresh read. Here, the author tells us to be joyful during trials because of the spiritual fruit it produces (I don't know about you, but my flesh rebels against that idea!). James goes on to encourage us to ask for wisdom during trials, which is really good advice, considering that we can make some pretty catastrophic decisions while under stress. He tells us that we are "blessed" (read: "happy") if we endure trials because there's a crown reward to be had. Near the closing of the passage, there's a warning to place blame where it belongs: during a trial, we are tempted to blame God; but our own flesh desires relief so earnestly that we are capable of making abominable choices. Lastly - and this is important: - we are exhorted to know the truth: every gift is from God, who doesn't change. Ever.
How do "gifts from God" fall into a passage regarding trials? Is there something we missed? Is Scripture being audacious? Furthermore, how does being "blessed" or "happy" fit in with a macabre scenario? We'll come back to that.
Bible directives (commands) instructing us to "give thanks" and "be joyful" seem to mock us in our misery:
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (James 1:2-3)
"Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess. 5:18)
I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little uncomfortable. Is it hot in here to you?
Here's my first reaction to a trial: I cry out to God for help and relief. God is glad to hear that prayer; He wants me (us) to draw near to Him, and sometimes it takes a trial to help us realize that. But God would have more for me and you: He would like for us to cooperate with His purposes, believing in His goodness and sovereignty and trusting Him for the outcome. That's where thanks and joyfulness come into the picture.
If we take James 1: 1-16 as a complete, unsegmented passage, we have to realize that trials are gifts from our Heavenly Father, Who never changes. Ever. He doesn't randomly dispense heartache and happiness for His children based on capriciousness or even our performance. Trials are one of God's blessings, part of the Christian journey, part and parcel of our fallen world where sin resides. They may come about as a result of our choices or maybe as the result of someone else's choices. In any and all cases, trials are a gift (gulp) from God to mature us, to draw us closer to Him, to get rid of extra "baggage" in our lives, to help us prioritize more wisely. Without them, we may not develop a dependence upon and closeness with God. Trials, when endured patiently, produce good fruit. The flesh is resistant, but the Holy Spirit is persistent!
Just so you know I haven't lost my marbles, let me acknowledge two things:
Thanking God for trials will not make them feel better.
Not thanking God for trials will not make them go away.
Thanking God in the midst of a trial, FOR the trial shows a depth of maturity and spiritual growth that displays hope in God for the outcome, and trust in our loving, sovereign savior. "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10) It is just as reasonable to thank God for a trial as it is to thank Him for comfort, provision, love, or any other request. Thanking God in trials is an act of the will that exemplifies our faith (granted by God's grace). We don't have to understand the trial in order to give thanks for it.
Here's another thought: has it occurred to you that your trial may not even be about you? Perhaps it is being used for others, or for a higher purpose God has in mind. (Think JOB here.)
Things we can be sure of in trials:
*God is strengthening us (Is. 41:10)
*Jesus is praying for us (John 17:20-23)
*The Holy Spirit is with us (I Cor. 3:16)
*God is investing my current struggle in/for future ministry. (I Peter 5:10)
*Trials now result in glory later (2 Cor. 4:17)
On the other side of the trial, we will be able to look back and praise God: "Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." (Ps 42:5)
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2020 Julianne Knapp. First published 6.9.20
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