In your study of the Bible, what have you found to be a challenging text? Perhaps it is where Jesus tells Peter, and by extension us, to forgive someone an unlimited amount of times when he sins against him (Matthew 18:21-35). Or maybe it is the commandment to love your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Here is another one from the brother of the Lord: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (James 1:2 NKJV). Trials usually involve some kind of physical or emotional suffering. The reason this passage is challenging is obvious: who takes joy in suffering? If you were to close the Bible right here, you might wonder if the book of James should be in the Bible.
But as one keeps reading the inspired text, it is obvious that James is not saying that the pain is joyful. No, for James continues to say, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:3,4). Therefore, a Christian looks at suffering in a much different way than an unbeliever. The non-Christian sees no value in suffering, but the child of God does. When one's faith is put to the test, he will either quit and give up, or he will become stronger. For the prospect of becoming spiritually stronger, the Christian can take joy.
When I was a little child, I was afraid to go to the doctor. Why? Because of the shots and finger pricks that seemed to occur at every visit. When I heard him say, "This might hurt for a bit," I felt like bolting from his office. Most folks do not relish the prospect of enduring some pain or discomfort. If I had my way, we would all eat chocolate cake every day, and then when we died, we would go to heaven. But, because sin entered this world, things do not work that way. When God created the heavens and the earth, everything was "very good." But when man sinned, death came into the world and everything associated with death, like natural disasters, accidents, and diseases (Romans 5:12). So suffering is the rule today, not the exception, and we should expect to suffer at different times throughout life.
However, Jesus came into this world and also suffered. But his suffering was to the end that all who would obey him might overcome their sufferings. Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:7-9). Jesus suffered many trials when he walked on this earth, but he overcame them all, including his death on the cross. The writer of Hebrews would go on to say that we are to look to Jesus so that we, by faith, can endure the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1,2). Since Jesus endured the cross, there is the possibility that we can endure any suffering.
Trials will either make you better or bitter. Whatever happens, remember that God loves you. He has proved it (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). So, we can take something that is bad, and with God's help, develop a deeper and more sure faith, and grow so that we reflect the glory of God to a lost and bitter world. Then when we die, we will go to that place where there is no more suffering. That is something in which we can take all joy!
Brotherly, Jamie
