One Key Thing We Need in Order to Rejoice During Trials

Rejoicing during trials seems stupid. I use that word intentionally not to be unnecessarily crass, but because our gut reaction to the idea of rejoicing in the middle of a trial feels that way. I mean, who, while enduring a vomit-inducing migraine will be receptive to someone saying, “Rejoice!”?

It’s important to keep in mind what we need in order to be able to rejoice when we’re persecuted (Matthew 5:12) or to “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2) when we go through various trials. Today I focus on one thing (I’m guessing there are others):

Knowledge

Consider James 1:2-3.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:2-3

Notice the reason James tells us to consider it “pure joy . . . when you face trials.” It’s “because you know. . .” It is our knowledge of what God is doing in us through the trials that enables us to consider them pure joy.

We do not consider our trials pure joy because of what we feel in the moment of the trial. No one would ever consider a trial to be any kind of joy if we did that, much less pure joy. Instead, we count them as joy because of what we know.

It is a godly person who, when enduring a trial, reminds themselves and others (yes, even out loud) that “This does not feel good, but I know that God is using it.”

You may be going through a trial right now, which is why you decided to read this short blog. It’s perfectly fine to tell God how you feel. But what you need to tell yourself in this moment is what you know.

Why not take a moment and literally tell yourself that out loud.