Trouble Will Come, But Count It All Joy
January 31, 2025
By Dr. J. Vernon McGee
The Epistle of James deals with the ethics of Christianity rather than doctrine. James bears down on some practical issues, but weaves the theme of how faith produces these good works into every chapter.
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” he begins. Trouble will come, so don’t think it strange that something terrible is happening to you. Instead, rejoice that God is testing you in this way. James isn’t saying that Christians will necessarily experience joy when we go through trials. Trials are meaningless, suffering is senseless, and testing is irrational unless there’s some good purpose for them. God assures us there is. (See Romans 8:28).
When you stand under the pressures, be alert to your heart’s attitude toward your trouble. Believe that God has permitted this trial for a purpose. Be confident He is working something out in your life. You may not understand His purpose, but it pleases Him when you walk by faith and not by sight.
What are some of God’s purposes in these tests of faith?
James urges us to let patience develop us into mature and well-developed Christians. Patience is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. You won’t become patient by trying to be patient, but neither will the Holy Spirit deliver it on a silver platter. Patience comes through suffering and testing. Testing and trials produce patience in our lives so we might develop into full-grown children of God. This is so relevant to today!
God allows trouble so that we learn patience, which will then produce real hope and love in us. We’ll also gain wisdom related to our trials if we ask Him for it. Wisdom is the exercise and practical use of knowledge. Wisdom is knowing how to act under difficult circumstances, or when you face problems or questions. Life is filled with these situations, and we clearly need God’s wisdom to navigate them. God is in the business of giving out wisdom “liberally”—if you lack wisdom, go to God who will hear and answer your prayer.
Turn these problems over to Him. You don’t have the brains to meet the problems of life, but you do have a heavenly Father who can supply the wisdom you need. When you’re tempted to doubt God’s purposes, turn the problem back over to Him. Start each day by giving Him your issues and trust Him that He’ll give you the wisdom you need to face the challenges.
The book of James is sometimes compared to the book of Proverbs, which is written like a college curriculum on wisdom. Here in the Epistle of James we find a different school—the “School of Hard Knocks.” God wants to bring His own to full Christian maturity. He tests His children to weed out the phonies and the fake saints and to assure His true children that He will help. Our trials are proof positive of our faith. If you are having trouble, that’s a good sign you belong to Him. He also wants to produce patience in your life and confidence that God is working out His purpose in your life.
When faith is tested and surrounded by darkness, when the waves are rolling high and all seems lost, the child of God knows this is not the end. It may be gloom now, but it will be glory later on (see Psalm 30:5). James says someday the one who has suffered “will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Testing of any kind tends to create pessimism, bitterness, and cynicism; it’s easy for people to get caught in the “why?” or “why me?” loop. But God tests us to grow our faith and develop our patience, and He has something very specifically in mind for the future.
People who have suffered a great deal often enjoy a closer, more loving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Suffering causes them to look forward to the day when the Lord welcomes them into His presence, when He will reward them with the crown of life.
Scripture mentions a half dozen different crowns given as rewards to believers. The crown of life is a reward for those who endure trials in their lives, yet they still love the Lord. Testing will either drive you to the Lord or it will drive you away from Him. So many Christians become bitter when life gets hard. But keep thinking about the moment you will stand in the Lord’s presence. Don’t let the very thing your heavenly Father was using to develop your character and to bring you into a loving relationship with Him make you bitter. We will each endure trials, but if you emerge from them, still loving the Lord Jesus Christ, then there’s going to be a reward waiting for you.
My Turn
- Why do you think God might find it necessary to test a person’s faith?
- Our attitude matters a great deal when it comes to enduring trials. When a trial comes, is your initial reaction one of faith or something else?
- The process which ends with wisdom begins with patience, but patience has to grow. Are there areas of your life where you are resisting growing in patience?
- Wisdom is so important that we can never just rely on our own. Who do you know who has wisdom that you can turn to when you need it?
- Trials will come. What can you do before they arrive to help make sure they produce patience in your life rather than anger and bitterness?
This excerpt is from our, "James Bible Companion." Get your print copy or free digital download at TTB.org.