Joy in Trials

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

–James 1:2-4

There are negative choices we can make when hard times come. We can get angry with God for His role in allowing the trial. We can get discouraged because we were expecting an easier life with Christ. We can even develop a persistent bad attitude in a trial that doesn’t allow others to see our hope in Him in the middle of what God is doing.

Joy is a much better choice! He calls us to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). He longs for us to persevere—joyfully! When we do this, we show the world what it means to have the hope of Jesus Christ even in the toughest of times.