What Does the Bible Say About Trials?

Trials. Tribulations. We all have them from time to time. Jesus told us we would (John 16:33). And if we leave it at that, we will consider ourselves royally screwed. My life motto used to be, “Life sucks, then you die.” I’m not even kidding; ask my optimist husband. LOL! I still say that from time to time, but now I’m able to say it and laugh (usually).

Luckily, though, we don’t have to leave it at that.

Even though Jesus said we would have trouble in this world, His Word tells us not to worry about it, even to "consider it pure joy." Share on X

In this post, we’re going to unpack the following well-known scripture on trials. Hopefully, we will all finish this post with a changed heart and be able to see trials and tribulations from a more positive perspective.

The Scripture

“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

Trials are all joy? What does that mean? How could a trial be considered a joyful thing? I’m going through a trial right now, and I am definitely not feeling joyful about it. How could I? It’s a trial; it’s hard. I hear you. We’ve all been there. Many of us are there right now. And I agree…it is hard. Sometimes it downright sucks. But, guys, there is good news! There is an amazing reward waiting for us at the end of each trial, and that reward is Jesus!

It may seem strange, but I want to dig into this post from the inside out. The reason for this is that we need to get a better understanding of trials and what their purpose is to better understand why they should be considered pure joy. So, without further ado, let’s get to digging!

Trials = Tests of Faith

Let’s first take a look at the part about trials being tests of our faith.

We have been through our fair share of trials, and in this last year and a half, it seems like it’s been mini-trial after mini-trial after mini-trial. It’s been a season of faith and faltering, triumph and testing – a real roller coaster. Long story short, we had plans that we thought had been given the God stamp of approval. Our plans didn’t go very smoothly, then COVID happened and they all completely fell apart. We continued to chase our plans, and they continued to fall apart. “Hello, this is God. Would you like to get out of my way now so I can do my job?” LOL! 

So now we are officially on a faith adventure. There are trials, bumps in the road so to speak, but He continues to provide us with everything we need – namely food on the table and people encouraging us not to give up on our dreams completely, but rather to wait for God to bring us into what He has for us.

As our faith is tested through all of these little trials, I can feel the work He is doing in us. He is producing a harvest of determination and growing us (and humbling us) in ways He never would have been able to had the journey… Share on X

Like how you stop being surprised by the bumps after being on a bumpy road for a while, we are slowly growing more able to roll with the bumps and keep moving forward, waiting excitedly for God to illuminate the next few feet of the road for us.

And like how some literal bumps in the road are big and some are small, the trials we encounter will be of various kinds. The trials we have been facing have been in the areas of business and parenting and resource management, which are all very different areas. They are all growing our faith and humbling us in different ways, but the end result is the same. And this brings us to the next part of the verse.

Trials and Steadfastness

Next, let’s explore the word “steadfastness” a little, shall we?

“Steadfastness” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “firmly fixed in place : immovable: not subject to change” and “firm in belief, determination, or adherence.”

When I first read this definition, I immediately thought, “The only thing I know that is truly immovable and not subject to change is God…” So if the testing of our faith leads to steadfastness, it could be said that trials make us more like God.

God is perfect and complete like today’s scripture says we will be if we consider trials to be pure joy. Whoa! Also, how much better are we to His kingdom if we are “firm in belief, determination, or adherence,” not wavering from following Christ and being the light here in a dark world?

The Importance of “Let”

Another important word in this part of the scripture is the word “let.” We must be open to the change of heart taking place and work with it instead of fighting against it. As humans, I think we are all somewhat resistant to change. We get comfortable where we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

When we are pushed outside our comfort zone, our first impulse is to fight to get back into it! Discomfort is, well, uncomfortable; however, without this discomfort, we have no reason to have faith in God, and unless our faith is tested, we cannot develop the steadfastness that transforms us into a more Christ-like person and makes us more useful to His kingdom.

So how do we rise above our stubborn human-ness and open ourselves up to this heart change? In his new book New Normal, John Lindell says, “It is not trusting in something we can do but rather trusting something that is being done to us and through us.” We must…

• Stop trusting our own strength and abilities.

Guys, pause for a moment and consider what you are trying to accomplish on your own without seeing results. Maybe it’s time to give it to God to allow Him to test your faith and produce a harvest of steadfastness in your life.

• Trust that God, who wants the very best for each and every one of us, is in control and knows what He is doing.

Do you ever consider the fact that God knows everything? EVERYTHING. He knows all about our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows. He knows how what we did in the past will affect our future. He knows how we feel and what we think. He sees every strand of the complicated web of our lives and how they are intertwined with the life-webs of others.

When I think about the omniscience of God and consider my own ignorance (tbh sometimes blatant stupidity) I want to trust Him over myself! I want to let Him mold me and use me the ways that He sees fit. Share on X

Consider Trials Pure Joy

Now that we understand what trials are and what they do for us, we can fully appreciate trials as pure joy. This is because tests of our faith, or trials, make us more like Jesus. Without them, we stay stuck deep in our human-ness, unable to be the person God needs us to be to fulfill our calling in life and reach people for His kingdom.

When we come out of trials on the other side, we are more effective followers of Jesus because we are stronger in our faith, have a more solid testimony, and have increased confidence in our ability to be used by God. And all of these things lead to being able to say “Yes!” more readily when He calls. Which is another reason to consider trials pure joy!

So now, when someone asks you, “What does the Bible say about trials and tribulations?” you will know exactly how to answer them in an encouraging and uplifting way that will hopefully help them to see their own tests of faith in a new, more positive light!

Here’s a bonus scripture for you for sticking with me through this entire long post.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” John 16:33

Catch ya later,

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