Even when grief, loss, sadness, physical challenges, financial hardships, and relational strains threaten to overwhelm us … the joy of the Lord is always within us!

For those of us who believe that the Bible is true, and that Jesus is the baseline for identifying how we should respond to everything we experience in our lifetime … may we turn to Him in our times of great need.

James 1:2-4 says,

Count it all joy my brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

The word count is a financial term which means “To evaluate.” According to Scripture, we’re called to develop a response to our trials from God’s perspective, rather than wishing that we would never have to face difficult circumstances.

Jesus says in John 16:33,

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

It’s not normal to experience joy nor peace through grief, loss, and hardships. However, both James & Jesus are encouraging us to change our attitudes towards the troubles that come our way. We would do well to discipline our minds and surrender our hearts to actively choose that God always knows best, and that He will always be there with us, no matter what!

Hebrews 13:5-6 says,

“For God has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say, the Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Paul says in Romans 5:2-5,

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”