Finding Joy in Trials
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Jame 1: 2-4
Several months ago I talked about that fact that it’s OK to not be OK when we hit the trials and storms of life. This is still true and what I’m going to share with you today does not contradict those verses or that post of mine.
That might seem like a paradox-how is it OK to not be OK during trials-and yet find joy at the same time?
This is one of those things that you definitely could not understand as an unbeliever, and sometimes even Christians have trouble with grasping. I am learning this valuable lesson first hand, however. Though I still hate this deployment, though I still am grieving my grandpa, and though we’ve continued struggling with sickness as the after effect of our immune systems being wiped out, lately I’ve been finding joy.
It’s not the feeling of happiness or anything warm or fuzzy. Rather I am just beginning to see part of the reasons *why*. I can see both my husband and I drawing closer to God and living more for him than we ever have before. I can see how much our relationship is being revitalized through this time apart-we have always had what I considered to be a good marriage, now through many things I can see what we have is truly a great, precious, and rare thing, and I am anxiously awaiting getting back to it!!! I feel my attitude towards our life style, and things that I have felt I needed to sacrifice for it being completely changed as for the first time I realize that my home is truly just wherever my husband is and where ever we can be together.
I also know that these are just the beginning and few things that I can see as a result of this horrendous year, so that I know that all the things must be even deeper and far reaching than I can imagine.
This, I believe, is the essence of what it means to find joy when you fall into trials.
Copyright © Nicole Elliott, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
I have had the most growth in my Christian maturity through trials. So awful to experience, but yes, possible to find joy, even during them.
This is one of my favorite scriptures to read and to recite over and over. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer yearly this year and I just could not fathom the idea of “counting all my trails a blessing.” I am 33 yrs old, married, with four children. How on earth did I end up with this? Over time, I’ve had to break down that passage and see what it was really trying to tell me. And it was telling me that I didn’t know who was watching me to see if my faith in God was really there. I have had many trials and tribulations come my way, but nothing like this. I have grown to rely on the truth of God and not what man tells me. I am cancer free (praise Jesus), however my battle is not over. I will continue to count all my trials a blessing, because like it says, there is a blessing.
Wow Chardelle! That is wonderful that you could go through one of the worst imaginable things and come out with that attitude. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
I loved this. Thank you for writing such a great post!