My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have itsperfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1.2-4

When trials beset
Jesus promised us that in this world we would have tribulation – trouble, difficulty, obstacles, opposition, loss, setback, and more (Jn. 16.33). For most of us, I suspect, that’s not exactly a happy prospect. Who wants to get up each day thinking, “I wonder how I’m going to get it in the neck today?”

Jesus did not tell us these words in order to make us anxious and fearful, or to discourage us, so that we “lay low” in our faith and don’t live fully for Him. As we know, His is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, and it is unthinkable that our King and Savior would want anything for us other than what will bring us into more realization of that promised boon.

So, at the same time Jesus warned us about trials to come, He told us how to respond to them, once we’ve recognized them for what they are: “…but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Our lives in the Kingdom of God have been hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3.3). Christ has already overcome every temptation, trial, or test the world could throw at Him, and our lives have been hidden with Him in God. The joy of God, the peace of the divine Trinity, and hope of everlasting glory are ours now, regardless of the trials or challenges we must endure – or whatever we might bring down upon ourselves by our selfish, sinful choices and behavior.

So Jesus tells us how to respond when trials come: We need to rejoice.

Rejoice? Why?
It remained for Jesus’ half-brother, James, to flesh out the details of this provisional discipline of rejoicing in the face of trials. James tells us that we can rejoice in the face of temptations and trials as long as we keep them in a proper perspective. We must call to mind that the end of all such tests, as the Lord allows or brings us into them, is to improve our life with the Lord toward completion in Christ (Jms. 1.4). Trials of all sorts are for the exercising of our muscles of faith. Just like an athlete only gets stronger by the arduous work of exercise and other bodily disciplines, so our faith only grows as we are exercised with trials and temptations.

But if we can recognize these for what they are – whether foisted on us by others, facing us in the form of temptation, or fallen into by our own bad choices – we can turn what might feel like danger or disaster into development into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in the face of trials strengthens us in patience, so that we don’t lose heart or slide further into sin. And patience, as we continue to exercise it, will grow us heart, mind, and conscience into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But it starts with rejoicing – at precisely the moment rejoicing is the last thing we feel like doing.

How to rejoice
When we recognize that a trial is coming upon us, or has already descended upon us, the first emotion that rises within us is not usually rejoicing. It might be fear, anger, alarm, doubt, sadness, or any number of affections that can leave us feeling discouraged, defeated, and depressed. Indeed, the Lord can use just such affections to signal to us that we have entered into a trial, thus helping us to recognize the situation for what it is.

But while such affections may be normal as a first response to trial, they must not be allowed to linger. We must move on from them to rejoice, for rejoicing engages the spiritual muscle of patience.

So, in order truly to rejoice in the face or midst of trials, we need to face down all negative affections. Identify what you are feeling – fear, anger, defeat, whatever it may be. Thank the Lord for each of these affections, for He is using them to alert you to this unique growth opportunity to which He has brought you.

Then, as you are thanking the Lord, focus your mind and heart on Him, exalted in glory. Sing a hymn expressing the greatness and majesty of our exalted King. Meditate on Him in His beauty, sovereignty, might, goodness, and love. See Him looking at you in the midst of your trial, and know that He does all things well and works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Stay there, seeking the face of the Lord, until His glory begins to surround and gather you in (2 Cor. 4.6).

Then turn to His Word for the words of rejoicing He has prepared for you. Read and pray through a psalm of rejoicing, such as Psalm 84 or 103. Read the psalm aloud, pausing to express your own feelings within the lines of God’s script for rejoicing. Let the psalm become your own words, so that your mind and tongue lead your heart to a true experience of joy in the Lord.

Then focus on the prospect of growth, deliverance, improvement, or direction that you know, by faith, the Lord has in store for you through this trial, and rejoice all the more. The provisional discipline of rejoicing can help you to gain the benefit God intends for whatever trial or suffering He allows.

Next steps: What can keep you from rejoicing in the face of trials and temptations? How can you overcome this? Talk with a Christian friend about these questions.

T. M. Moore

This week’s study, Provisional Disciplines, is part 7 of a 7-part series on The Disciplined Life, and is available as a free download by clicking here. We have prepared a special worksheet to help you begin getting your disciplines in proper shape for seeking the Kingdom. Write to T. M. at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for your free PDF of the “Disciplined Life Worksheet.”

A rightly-disciplined life requires a Kingdom vision, and that vision is centered on Jesus Christ exalted. T. M. has prepared a series of meditations on the glorious vision of Christ, based on Scripture and insights from the Celtic Christian tradition. Order your copy of Be Thou My Vision by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.