Sometimes life gets tough. Finances are tight, relationships are strained, work is demanding, our health is compromised, God seems distant… Whatever the cause, life’s road can seem long and steep. It’s easy to focus on the negative and become completely overwhelmed with the troubles and frustrations. I find this to be especially true as we face a pandemic that has rocked our world. We live in unprecedented times. It’s hard to know what tomorrow holds.
The book of James is one of my favorites. James was Jesus’ half -brother. Even though he grew up with Jesus, he did not believe in Jesus’ Lordship. (See Mark 3:21) But sometime after Jesus’ death and resurrection, James became a believer and dedicated follower of Christ. And in fact, he became the leader of the church at Jerusalem, making major decisions that affected Christian doctrine for all time. Talk about a major transformation?
In his letter, James wrote, “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 NLT. I’m sorry, but, “Are you kidding??” God is asking us to be joyful about troubles? Is that even humanly possible? And the answer is… no, it is not humanly possible. But, it is divinely possible. With God, all things are possible.
God is not calling us to have a happy, emotionally joyful response to trials. He is not calling us to rejoice as we see people suffer during this hard season. Rather, He wants us to view troubles as a means for moral and spiritual growth. So we do not rejoice in the trials themselves but in their possible results. God calls us to look at life’s troubles from His perspective and not just our own limited one. Put on His glasses, look through His lenses. And in His perspective, He is working all things together for good. We can trust Him. He is faithful. He hasn’t forgotten us. And we can have joy, even when life spirals out of control, because He is in control of all things. Don’t focus on the negative. Instead, choose to focus on the good that God will bring from this season. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV