How To Find Joy Even When Life Falls Apart – James 1:2-4

Life is filled with all kinds of trials: pain, suffering, loss, rejection, persecution, injustice… the list could go on. It’s not a question of if you will face a trial, but when. 

So how can we have a happy and joy-filled life with all of the unwanted and unplanned difficulties of life? Is it even possible? The Bible’s answer might shock you. 

Most people think trials should be avoided at all costs. But the Bible says, trials should be celebrated. What?!

Allow me to explain, because it’s not as crazy as it sounds. In fact, in this video, I will show you why the Bible says we can rejoice in the difficulties in life and how for thousands of years, this way of seeing the world has given people the strength to keep going even in the absolute worst situations imaginable. 

If you’re new, hi, I’m Brandon and I’ve been a pastor for over 18 years. In that time, I’ve walked alongside hundreds of people through all kinds of unexpected trials and difficulties in their life like cancer, death, divorce, and addiction, and I’ve seen how the truth in this one Bible verse is a game-changer.

What Does the Bible Say About Trials?

The book of James begins with one of the most counterintuitive commands in the Bible. After introducing himself in verse one, he jumps right into it in James 1:2-4 (ESV). 

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

So what is James saying here. Let’s break this down:

First notice that James says, “When you meet trials of various kinds” not “if” but “when.” Trials are coming. Name one person who has ever walked the face of the earth who did not experience any trials. If you can do it, let me know in the comments, because I don’t think you can. 

It doesn’t matter how rich or privileged or lucky you are in this life, trials come for us all. And for some of us, they come a whole lot harder. So instead of living ignorant about life’s difficulties and then being shocked when things don’t go as we planned, we should expect trials to come. 

In fact, we should probably be more surprised when we have seasons where everything is going well and we aren’t facing trials, than when we do face trials. 

Second, when you face trials, what should you do?James says,“Count it all joy”. This is not natural. Nobody gets a bad diagnosis and thinks “Oh joy!” Nobody faces persecution and says, “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this. Wohoo!” The audience James is writing to are “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (James 1:1). These are Jews who converted to Christianity and because of intense persecution for their faith have been scattered around the known world. They knew a thing or two about trials. And James says “Count it all joy!” How is that possible?

What James is talking about here is a deliberate change of thinking. You have to actively reframe your thinking to count all your trials as joy.

Joy Is Not the Same as Happiness

Happiness is different than joy. Happiness is more of a temporary emotion based on circumstances. Joy is a deeper, lasting state rooted in the hope of what you know is true, not just what you feel right now. 

This doesn’t mean you will ever be happy about suffering or difficulties in life, but it does mean that even in the hard things, you can have joy. This isn’t a turn your frown upside down, just be positive surface-level advice. There is a heavy theological depth behind it.

The only reason James can say this is because of his faith in Jesus. If you believe Jesus died on the cross in your place so that you can be forgiven of all your sins and guaranteed a future home in heaven after this life, it changes everything about how you see the world and how you live. 

You realize that this life is just a test. Better days are ahead for you. So while the trials we endure today may be absolutely awful (I don’t want to diminish anyone’s pain or suffering), they are all temporary. Life is a test, and this is not the end of the story. In the grand scheme of eternity, this temporary suffering is only small part of your story. 

And trials also have benefits here and now as well that we often overlook. James says, “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

As I just said, life is a test, and difficulty, suffering, hardship, and trials all are tests of your faith. Will you endure and believe even through this, or will your faith be shaken? 

Most of us have probably known somebody who claimed to have faith in God, but fell away as soon as life got difficult. The trials came and their faith was proven to be lacking. It’s sad every time, and I always pray that they will come back, but I have seen it again and again.

A Life Without Trials Is a Life Without Growth

If you think your relationship with God is transactional, where you believe if you follow him, then he will make you healthy and wealthy and happy, you need to read the Bible. Every single hero of our faith endured severe trials that tested their faith. And we respect these men and women of the Bible because of their steadfastness.

In fact, the best stories include the most severe trials. And we know this intuitively. What is a story without conflict? Who wants to watch a movie where nothing bad ever happens? 

Or imagine sports without any opposition? Imagine a football team lines up without any opponent, snaps the ball, and everyone runs to the endzone. Then they line up and do it again. How boring would that be?! 

You don’t want a life without trials, because that would be no life at all. It is when we fight through the trials and persevere in our faith that we find the greatest meaning and purpose in life, even if we don’t wish the same struggles on our worst enemies. 

And look what James says next, there is a purpose for your struggles. “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Essentially, steadfastness produces maturity. Steadfast faith through the tests and trials of life is the process God uses to refine and shape you and make you into the complete person that God wants you to become.

A life without resistance is a life without growth. Just as you don’t build muscle without weights, you don’t build faith without trials. 

God’s Goal Isn’t Your Comfort

Despite popular opinion, God’s goal is not to make you comfortable. His goal is to make you complete.

So stop waiting for life to get better to be happy. Don’t let trials steal your joy. Be weird like James and the apostles, who celebrated when they faced trials and praised God even when they were persecuted. 

Count the trials joyfully because you know that your faith is being refined. You are being strengthened. God never wastes a trial. He uses them to help you grow. But we have to change our perspective to see that. 

The world says, “Trials should be avoided at all cost.” So we seek comfort and escape from it all. And if they pray, they pray, “God get me out of this.”

But the Christian says, “trials should be counted as joy.” So we see the trials as a test of our faith and a chance to mature and grow more steadfast and complete. And our prayer is “God help me grow from this.”

So “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”