Adversity: Count It All Joy
TEXT: James 1
On this topic of “Adversity” we would like to explore why we should count it all joy when we are faced with various trials. It is observed that through adversity we learn who God really is, who we are, and our strengths and weaknesses. We need to understand that there are facts of life to be mindful of when facing adversities (trials); reasons for our trials; our response to trials must be appropriate and at the end a reward is received.
Facts of life to be mindful of when facing adversities (trial):
- Realise the reality of trials. Problems are inevitable. “Blessed [happy, to be envied] is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). See also 1 Peter 4.
- Trials are custom made and come in various types.
- Our trials have purpose.
Reasons for our trials:
- Problems purify our lives
- Problems are test of faith (testing of our faith)
- Problems (as testing of our faith) bring or produce perseverance. “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Smith Wigglesworth, a man of faith and really a living “epistle of God” was asked the question, “How do we obtain great faith?” Speaking from a lifetime of experience, his invariable answer to this question was:
Great faith is the product of great fights.
Great testimonies are the outcome of great test.
Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.
Every stumbling block must become a stepping stone,
And every opposition must become an opportunity.
According to Wigglesworth, there is no other way into the deep things of God but a broken spirit. And the best thing that we could ever have is a great trial. Therefore, we need to voice our position in God and know that we are surrounded by all the resources of God in the time of trial.
- Problems help us mature
Our Father in heaven is much more interested in building our character than making us comfortable.
Response to trials: Our response to trials determines the outcome of the trials.
- We must respond with joy (respond positively to God) and pray. “Consider [count] it wholly joy, my brotheren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations” (James 1:2). To count means to evaluate.
Through trials, God does something wonderful in our lives. “Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring our endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing” (James 1:3-4).
- We need to ask God for wisdom to handle trials. “If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault-finding, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
We must believe that when we seek God in faith, He hears and answers us. “Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [for being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]” (James 1:6-8).
Reward: According to James 1:12, there is a reward for the one who goes through trials.
When trials are finished and response accomplished, then there is God’s reward.
It is not the will of God to hurt us with trials. In fact, Jeremiah 29:11 declares, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome”.
Furthermore, in John 16:33 Jesus declares, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration: but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]”.
Therefore, the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:35-39 declares, “Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, for Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter [Ps.n44:22] Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor heights nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
Not only does God loves us and wants to give His best to us but He is also faithful to keep His promises to us and His promises are yes and amen. Therefore, we can trust Him, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Let us therefore like Job declare that all through these difficult days of our warfare and service we will keep hoping, eagerly waiting, till our change and release shall come: for the final change – for resurrection and restoration! Amen!
I declare God’s richest blessings on you this week!
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
- Has there ever been a time when you experienced adversities?
- Make a list of the various types of trials you have experienced.
- Can you identify any of the aforementioned reasons with the trials you faced?
- If you are currently facing or should in the future face a trial of any sort, how can this knowledge influence your perception of trials?
- How did you respond to the trials you listed in question 2 above?
- What were the outcomes of those trials?
