In a trial or hardship? This message teaches us what to do when we find ourselves in difficult situations. Learn the prescription for joy and success. And get 5 action steps for enduring trials, tests, and persecution.

This week we’re diving into practical issues of faith and works and our need for Godly wisdom. Trials, suffering, adversity, pain and even persecution are avenues that will lead you to trusting God if you allow them. And trials and testing can strengthen your faith. Let me encourage you not to give up or get discouraged in faith. Press in and trust the Lord, even if you do not see God moving now.

Encouragement and action steps for time of trials and pain.

Who wrote the book of James, and why?

We are beginning today in the epistle of James. We saw last week that the book of James is thought to be the earliest New Testament writing, dating sometime before A.D. 50. The author of this letter is thought to be James the Just, the half-brother of Jesus, and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

This letter was written to encourage the Jewish Christians who were suffering and experiencing all kinds of trials because of their faith in Christ the Lord. James is not writing this letter as an outside observer. James is an active participant in the Jerusalem church, and he would have personal firsthand experience regarding lessons of faith, trials, testing, and persecution that people were experiencing. James was keenly aware of the believers need to endure the persecution and suffering that people were facing. James is encouraging both those living in Jerusalem and believers scattered all around the known world to persevere in their faith and walk steadfast with Christ. The letter is not written to any specific church, city, or person, it is written for believers everywhere.

James is instructing and encouraging the believers regarding practical issues of faith and works and their need for Godly wisdom. Remaining faithful is not easy when facing strong opposition and James understood this all too well.

Notice the letter is written “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1). James addressed his letter to Jewish believers and for believers everywhere.

Before you think James is only addressing issues that were common in his day, take a moment to look at the news around the world. In some parts of the world, you will find the church and believers are under great persecution, testing, and trials of many types. You, personally, may not be experiencing persecution or some trial now, but you do have brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are. Some have been killed for their profession of faith in Christ.

Trials and testing will come your way, but you have no need to dread them; rather rejoice, and understand that trials have a purpose.

James is not saying that we should go looking for trials. James is simply saying that as we experience and face trials in life, we can look to God for wisdom and remain steadfast in faith, in Christ the Lord. The person who chooses to endure and remains steadfast in faith will become spiritually mature, stronger in faith, and lack nothing. The Lord by his Holy Spirit will give you what you need to stand firm in faith. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that the Lord will not let us be tempted or endure trials beyond what we can bear. And he will provide a way out of those temptations.

What does it mean to count trials as joy?

With this truth in mind, I want us to look at James 1, the word that James has is for us today, just as much as it was for believers more than 1900 years ago. The book of James is for you, now and into the future, when feel surrounded by trials and temptations of many kinds.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:2-12, NIV).

Notice James writes whenever you face trials of many kinds. James did not say if you face trials. James is telling us that we will face trials at times and every time we face trials in life, we should consider it as pure joy. James may sound crazy to you at first when he tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds. But he is not crazy.

The joy James refers to here is not one meaning happiness, but it refers to a state of wellbeing. An understanding all will be OK. All is good and everything will work out; the Lord’s got this. A person can feel happy, even joyful, when things are going well. This is not the type of joy of which he is speaking. The joy James is referring to comes from when a person views the situation, the trial, from God’s perspective. Only then can we see trials as joyful, and for our wellbeing. We can joyfully surrender to God’s loving care in our trials knowing all will be OK, much like the apostle Paul enduring all his suffering, because it was accomplishing what God intended in his life and for others for the glory of God. It is a joyfulness regarding wellbeing, without any sense of sorrow.

What is the purpose of trials?

James understands that there is a much larger purpose to the trials we face as believers in Christ. The trials James is addressing are not trials for doing wrong. Quite the opposite. Trials and testing the believer faces will come because of your stance for the things of God, and for doing what is right in the sight of God. The trial will test you and your faith in Christ.

God already knows how you will respond. The testing is not for God to see how you will react. It is for you. To build you up, to strengthen you in faith and develop spiritual maturity in you. Trials are a path to spiritual growth and maturity. We are called to follow in Christ’s footsteps: he suffered for us and was an example to us; and if we suffer for doing good, it’s commendable before God (1 Peter 2:20-21).

James does not list any specific kind of trial that you might face. The trials James is speaking of are of various kinds, unwelcomed, unexpected trials, or temptations that a person will experience and that are common to mankind. It might be physical, financial, spiritual, relational, emotional, medical, facing life and death issues, a threat to your job, reputation, or status, or something else.

Either way, James is telling the believer to endure, to persevere under the trial and allow the testing to develop and strengthen their faith. James cautions the believer to let the work of perseverance finish. Do not try to avoid the trial. Let it finish its work in you. Be steadfast, keep the faith and you will grow in faith and spiritual wisdom. Know beyond any doubt, you will not lack anything as you call out to God in faith.

I must admit I do not enjoy trials, testing, or pain. I do not know anyone who does. Trials will often include some type of pain. For example: muscle pain is often an indication that you are using your muscles. If you start a physically laborious job, you will feel pain at the end of the day, however as you endure and keep working you will find that, over time, you will have built up your muscles and you are able to endure the work and you will feel less pain. You will be able to endure and persevere the next laborious job, trial, test, or temptation that comes your way.

The benefit within the example above is in the person’s ability to endure hard labor. The way to measure the benefit is seen in the building of physical muscles and endurance.

James is telling us we will grow steadfast in faith and in spiritual maturity, lacking nothing when we undergo spiritual testing and perseverance of faith.

The true reward for enduring and persevering under trials is found in verse 12: the crown of life. The man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life.

1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us, that a person should rejoice even if we suffer grief in all kinds of trials because our faith will be proven genuine and result in honor to Jesus. In other words, all the things we suffer in trials and testing is worth more than pure gold that is refined by fire. No amount of pure gold can buy your salvation, cover your sins, buy forgiveness of sin, or give you joy or a sense of wellbeing. Pure joy and the sense of spiritual wellbeing is priceless. No amount of gold or works will earn you the crown of life. That price was paid on the cross and is applied to you when you ask Jesus into your heart in faith.

Your faith in Christ and the knowledge of your redemption is where your joy as a Christian comes from.

What can we do when we feel alone or confused about trials?

James is not the only New Testament writer to say that Christians will be persecuted or experience trials. Paul tells timothy, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). The variety of trials and testing that come your way may be different from others. You may never face a life-or-death trial as some have done. Diverse cultures; different generations; different people experience various types of testing; each person will respond differently. One person may question where God is. Another may think, “Why is this happening to me? Why doesn’t God heal me? Why doesn’t God answer my prayer?” Where others may feel all alone. We need to encourage one another to endure, just as the apostle Paul and James have done.

Let me encourage you not to give up or get discouraged in faith. Press in and trust the Lord, even if you do not see God moving now. God is working all things out for his Glory. He has not abandoned you. He is right there with you, in your time of testing. The Holy Spirit is in you, and you are never alone. Trust him, call out to him. Wait upon the Lord. The answer is on the way. The Lord’s timing is best. He is never late, wait upon the Lord.

What should success look like as a Christian?

Webster’s dictionary states that persevering is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in success. The world will say success is judged only one way. The world looks at the outward, the present. God looks at the heart. As Christians, we look to the hope we have in Christ. The world will say having wealth, a big house, an excellent job, retirement early in life, a life without stress or problems, having all your wants met is success. You can have all these and not have any joy or a sense of wellbeing. All you need do is ask the person who has all the world has to offer, all that money can buy, but still feels alone, empty, and unhappy. They have a desire, a need, an idea of success is to have more, and that will bring joy and the sense of wellbeing that they desire. That is the lie of the enemy. Only God can fill that emptiness in a person’s soul.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Blessed, happy is the man who perseveres under trial because he will receive the crown of life. For the Christian, success is living a life of faith and obedience in Christ. It is eternal life with Christ in glory. It is receiving the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. It is having the peace of God in your heart and hope in Christ that will never disappoint.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

We can rejoice even in times of suffering because we know the love and promise of God are true and that God has given us the Holy Spirit. As we grow in faith and learn to follow Christ, we must also learn to keep our eyes on him no matter how difficult or impossible the circumstances get.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” (Philippians 3:12-15).

What is the prescription for our joy and success?

Within these two Hebrews verses, we find a prescription to enduring trials, tests, and persecution that come our way.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

1. Throw off everything that hinders and run with perseverance.

We must throw off the things that hinder us, as well as the sin that so easily entangles, the sin that is common to all mankind. The list may vary for each person, yet the general groups would be the same.

What are some common things that hinder or entangle?

• The weight of past sins that the enemy uses to condemn you.

• Fear, doubt, and lack of faith.

• Idolatry (riches, success etc.).

• Pride.

• Selfishness or greed.

• Worldly pleasures.

• Sexual addictions, lust.

• Lies and gossiping.

Seek the Lord with all our heart. Seek his will and direction for your life. Refuse to believe the lies of the enemy, be humble in spirit and run the race that is before you.

2. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. If not, in time you will find yourself astray spiritually. You will find that you are no longer on the path God has for you. You will find yourself in spiritual bondage and wondering how you strayed so far from the Lord. We are told to resist the devil and he will flee from us; to submit to God; to humble ourselves before the Lord and he will lift us up (James 4:7-10).

Five Steps to Endure Trials

When you find yourself in a trial or when adversity comes your way:

1. Look to the Lord first.

2. Pray and ask God for wisdom.

3. Wait upon the Lord.

4. Throw off the things that hinder you and fix your eyes on Jesus.

5. Allow the word of God to fill your heart and then wait upon the Lord some more.

View things from God’s perspective and for spiritual maturity as the path to steadfast faith. A path that many have traveled before you. People like Abraham, Joseph, David and Jesus himself.

Trials, suffering, adversity, pain and even persecution are avenues that will lead you to trusting God if you allow them. How?

• Press in and develop a deeper trust and spiritual maturity.

• Focus on the hope you have in Christ and not the trial.

• Allow such things to drive you into the arms of God.

No one takes pleasure in trials and yet they can be used of God to mold you into the person of God he desires. Consider all the various trials of your life as joy, allow them to produce what is worth more than gold: The crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Look back over your life, and you will see how the hand of God was on your life.

You are loved and blessed of God. He is working in your life even if you do not see him or feel him now.

Are you amid a trial this week? Have you experienced a form of adversity or persecution this week? What should do when you find yourself in a difficult situation?

• Stand firm in faith, pray, and wait upon the Lord.

• Stand on the promises of God, seek the wisdom of God.

• Stand firm in the knowledge that you are never alone and that the Holy Spirit is in you.

• Allow the joy and the sense of spiritual wellbeing in the Lord to be your strength.

• View your situation from God’s perspective and not from your limited perspective.

• Know that whatever you endure in this life cannot be compared to the crown of life that is waiting for those who believe.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

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