A Joy Test?

“My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

James 1:2-3, NET

            What is James thinking—trouble brings joy? How is this possible? In the face of difficulty, how are we to look at this as a means to joy? No, he is not saying, “What does not break you makes you stronger.” Nor is he saying that we should jump up and down for joy when trouble comes, “Yippee! Trouble is coming! Trouble is coming!” James is more pragmatic—he believes that faith ought to live even when trouble comes, when our hearts are breaking and when we do not think we can possibly take any more. Remain true and steadfast putting your hope and faith in God and his Christ. Hurricanes will come, people will hurt us even with good intentions and life will seem to ignore our hurts. Being God’s people does not make us immune from life’s little twists and turns. Life goes on whether we like it or not, and we must choose how we will respond. Sometimes life overwhelms us, and our cries to the Almighty seem to fall on deaf ears. Why can he not just wipe away our hurt, give us a fresh start and rescue us from the harm we are facing? How do we live on under the constant onslaught of all kinds of testing?

            James focuses not on how to fix problems but in how to outlast them. This runs counter to popular Christian teachers who proclaim a luxurious gospel of having-it-all. When Jesus says that he came to give us life to the full (John 10:10), does he mean that he gives us life on our terms—as we would like it? Looking at the life of the Abundant Giver, do we see a life free of trouble? If it is not the absence of harm, wherein does abundance and joy enter the picture? James uses two phrases to describe the trials we face. The first phrase testing suggests proving one’s worth by a variety of tests. The second implies a testing of trustworthiness. While we may wish our goods and others to be tested, we do not wish the same to be done to us. It is only natural. If our faith saves us, and this is a major point in James, how can we deny that its efficacy be proven genuine—that it will indeed save us? If our faith saves us in the happy bye and bye, ought it not save us in the here and now? I do not care to walk by faith instead of by sight nor do I care for testing of any kind in any form whatsoever. Yet, if I wish to determine the value of my faith and prove my life’s work to be of enduring worth, I must know now that what I believe is indeed genuine. I do not say this lightly in view of recent detours, disappointments and damage in my life. I wish that God never allowed it. I wish he would make it go away. I wish he would save me in the old dues ex machina fashion of the old plays. He has not. In view of this, is my faith still worth something? Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego believed so, as do I. I wish that outcome were different but my hope and my faith are in God. I believe that Jesus will make good come from whatever circumstance I may endure. I hope to be a better man, a better father, a better husband and a better Christian in the end. In the meantime, I must hold on until he Christ has done all that he needs to do with me. I pray for his gentleness, mercy and grace to be abundantly present in my life, but he must remake me into what he believes I need to be. My prayer is that he will have his way with me.

            In the meantime, I will continue to be folded, spindled and mutilated. I do not wish it, but there it is—life goes on and so must I. I must rely on Christ—to trust in Christ and to value him over anyone or anything. Life that endures must endure even thrive in the face of adversity. It is life bent over in prayer seeking God’s will to be done in our lives. Joy awaits us through what we overcome as Christ gives us strength.

Steve Davis