Counting Trials as Joy

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds." — James 1:2 BSB

When trials press in, joy is often the last thing on our minds. Yet, Scripture does not call us to feel joy but to count it as joy. The word reckon is crucial—it is the same word used when we are told to consider ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11). We may not feel dead to sin, but we believe God's declaration and live accordingly. In the same way, we view trials through God's perspective, choosing to rejoice, knowing they are tools in His hands for our good.

This kind of rejoicing is not mere optimism or denial of hardship. It is a deep-seated confidence that, even when circumstances seem barren—when the tree bears no fruit, and the storehouse is empty—we are rich in Christ. The joy we count by faith eventually becomes the joy we experience, as our hearts are trained to rest in God's sufficiency.

Consider an orchestra tuning before a performance. To the untrained ear, the noise is dissonant, chaotic—far from the beauty of a symphony. But the conductor is not disturbed. He knows the confusion is temporary, a necessary prelude to harmony. Likewise, what appears to be disorder in our lives is preparing us for something greater. In trusting Him, we recognize that the trials we endure are not random disruptions but part of His divine composition.

🛐 Prayer of Confidence:
Father, we stand in the certainty that You work all things for our good. You have given us everything we need in Christ, including the ability to rejoice in trials. Our hearts are steadfast, not because of circumstances, but because You are unchanging. We refuse to measure our joy by what we see, choosing instead to rest in Your perfect work. Thank You for shaping us, for turning difficulties into stepping stones of grace. In every trial, we rejoice in You, our refuge, and our song. Amen.

📸 Photo Credit: Unsplash
📖 Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven