The Apostle James gives a hard saying when he wrote in his Epistle (James 1: 2-8), “My brothers and sisters count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and completely lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting for he who doubts is like the wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man receive anything from the Lord he is a double minded man unstable in all his ways.”
St. James teaches that when we face trials of any kind, we should consider them joy. How are we supposed to do that?
Trials, difficulties, hardships, adversities, misfortunes, do not bring joy. They bring sadness, pain, unhappiness, fear, suffering, and anguish.
We need to confront the teaching of James with honesty because this is a tough issue. How in the world are we going to count it joy when we fall into various trials. Can we Christians do that?
Those who would argue that we should do so, have failed to grasp the real meaning of the exhortation. Counting it all joy when you fall into trials does not mean that we simply are to falsely rejoice in hardships, or we simply are to rejoice by putting up a strong face, like a stoic philosopher pretending and acting as if everything is fine when things are hard.
St. James seems to teach that we have to use trials and hardships as means to strengthen our character and develop our ability to endure the difficulties of life.
Strengthening our character means that we develop within us a core of faith and belief, a central focus of trust in God, through the experience of enduring trials.
The Apostle James is saying that no Christian can mature in faith without undergoing the fire of testing brought about by the unpredictable circumstances of life. The testing of our faith produces trust and belief, a confidence that God is still in control no matter what.
James is saying we cannot develop that trust and unshakable confidence in God's presence and power without experiencing hardships. We cannot exactly rejoice in our hardships but we can use the hardships and trials as means of growing in faith, as means of testing our trust and relying on God again and again and again discovering that God never fails.
The Apostle James has been describing the ways we ought to live through trials and tribulations and difficult times. James said the source of our troubles is not God. He explains that we face trials and difficulties not because these are God's intention for our life but because of the sin nature in us.
We live in a fallen world, and Christianity is the only religion that teaches the fall of man, that humanity is a fallen race without hope of redemption if not for the saving grace of God. Many of the problems we face are the direct result of our own sinfulness, pride, self centeredness and spiritual blindness. God does not tempt us. Pride, selfishness, lust, jealousies, anger, hate, greed, arrogance, deceitfulness, covetousness, all these and other human weaknesses conspire to tempt us and lead us into problems and hardships when we give in to them. The problem with most people is that they want to blame someone, something, or God, for their troubles and difficulties.
Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham was interviewed on television in the Early Show and Jane Clayson the program host asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding the devastating effect of typhoon Katrina).
Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.
She said, “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the Gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?'In light of recent events ... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc., I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.’”
Throughout the New Testament, we can find a common theme: testing will come to all God’s people. The only questions are when and what kind will they be. Times of testing are neither an indication that we have been abandoned nor selected for an attack by the enemy. They are the result of living in a broken world.
St. Peter addressed the whole issue when he wrote to the suffering brothers and sisters in Rome. He said that the proper response should be threefold: First we should rejoice, just as James said, no mater how strange the logic is, for suffering has a far deeper purpose in building our faith. Second we should commit ourselves to the loving care of our Heavenly Father, and third, we should continue doing what is right, no matter what others say or do.
There is a common perception today that in this world faith in Christ will exempt one from hardships in life especially those associated with one’s health, happiness and prosperity. This is not true. Preaching a Christianity that is easy, pleasurable and indulgent is a high form of deception. A hostile world is out there. Finances are short, expenses are mounting, debts are overdue, a child is sick, the employer is losing, health is failing. The strain and stress of the world are very real. When they come the human tendency is to point an accusing finger at circumstances, which one cannot change, or blame God for not preventing them.
The issue is how will God’s people respond? But the child of God is not left helpless. God is saying “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Be still and know Me, He said. He assures that “in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” ( Isaiah 30;15). God has given us His promises. First He promised to be with us always. He goes with us through the fiery trials. Second he promised to protect us. Nothing can happen to us apart from the will and protection of our Father. Third He promised to refine us so that we can come out pure in our faith that His power may be demonstrated in our lives.
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