Week 14: James 1:2-3

James 1:2,3:  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.

1. James is telling us that whenever we encounter trials and problems we're supposed to rejoice.  Rejoice!?  Rejoice is often the thing we least want to do, and yet there it is, sitting right alongside the rest of the holy Words of God.  If we've read much of the bible, especially when it comes to Jesus' words and teachings, then this passage shouldn't come as a surprise.  God has a way of turning things on their heads and making us cling to Him.
2. Why should we count it as joy?  Because our trials produce steadfastness.  Steadfastness means to "resolutely or dutifully hold to something; to stay loyal."  If trials yield this attitude, an attitude where we become more loyal to God, then why would we not rejoice at this?
• We don't rejoice because we're finite and mortal, unable to see beyond our own minds and ideas of how the world should work.  God is sovereign, all powerful, and all knowing, and He knows exactly what He's doing.  We struggle to accept this mindset with everything, and the same goes here.  We expect to be treated better because we love and serve God, when that idea is unbiblical and wrong (see Matthew 5:45).  We need to understand that God loves us and that we endure trials to get closer to Him.

I am thankful to God that the trials in my life have been nominal compared to many others.  For me, it is easy to see God is in control.  For others, I understand, this may not be so.  And so while I am probably unqualified to opine on certain situations, in the end, all situations are under God's sovereign control and we have to just trust in Him.  These verses are tough to chew on, but it's so rewarding to know that we draw closer to God through pain and troubles.