by Vince Wilcox
We begin this New Year in perhaps the darkest days our country has known since World War II. In America alone, hundreds of thousands of beloved friends and family members have lost their battle to COVID-19. And though vaccinations have commenced all the over the world, experts believe it will be mid-2021 before enough people have been vaccinated so that commerce, schooling, and worship services can begin returning to some semblance of normal. In the meantime, many people are enduring unprecedented isolation, hunger, and economic hardship.
And yet, James 1:2-4 asks us to embrace joy in the midst of our trials and tribulations:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
As we embark on the journey into this New Year, we need to be encouraged not to postpone our experience of joy until “all is right with the world.” Indeed, the confidence that “all shall be well” should kindle the flame of hope that—even in the throes of a pandemic—God will not be thwarted from using all things for his glory and the benefit of those whom he’s called.
Here are 7 reasons to embrace joy in the midst of our trials:
- Though our present trials may make us wince and weep, we can rejoice now in anticipation of the faithfulness that will be produced in us (Jas. 1:2-4). Faith begets even more faith. The more we press into God’s provision for “this present darkness,” the more we’ll experience his faithfulness and care.
- Christ shares our sorrows, abides with us in our pain, and has born the ultimate consequences of sin and death (Is. 53:3-5). Though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps.23:4), death itself is but an impotent shadow (1 Cor. 15:54-56) that passes harmlessly over Christ’s beloved because he has suffered its true pain and penalty in our stead. Joy should pervade wherever the Bridegroom abides…and he has promised to be with us through every circumstance (Mt. 28:20).
- God has promised to redeem every tear shed and to recreate a new heaven and new earth where suffering and death are destroyed (Rev. 21:4). Paul equates the suffering experienced by all of creation to “birth pangs” which will be forgotten once new life comes into the world (Ro. 8:22). Our present suffering is pregnant with future glory. We can rejoice because his return is more near than ever.
- Jesus gives us the honor of sharing in his sufferings so that we might learn to lay down our lives for others and thus develop his spiritual character (Ro. 8:17). The word “compassion” literally means “to suffer with.” When we have compassion on others, we’re not just being sympathetic or even empathic; rather we’re climbing into their circumstances to bear their heartache and share the pain as Christ does.
- Knowing that our present sufferings will pale before the glory that should be revealed in us (Ro. 8:18), we—like Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail—can lift our voices in worship, especially when the hour is dark, and deliverance is nowhere to be seen (Acts 16:25). The promise of joy delivers us through our trials just as it delivered Christ through his: “For the joy set before him he [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
- The Holy Spirit manifests joy into and through us. Joy is listed second behind the “greatest of these,” love: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23).” These spiritual traits don’t exist independently; rather, they reinforce one another. For example, love involves kindness, peace involves forbearance, and faithfulness involves perseverance. Joy should be an inextricable aspect of our Spirit-filled lives, whether we’re experiencing trial or triumph.
- Joy is a choice to obey God. Joy isn’t a by-product of our circumstances; rather, it’s an act of faith manifested in the way we think and act. The apostle Paul, incarcerated and facing execution, commands joy from himself and the Philippian church (Phil. 1:18-19, 2:18, 3:1, 4:4). Just as it would be inappropriate not to share the heartache of those who mourn, we would also be remiss not to remind each other that one day our mourning shall turn to dancing (Eccl. 3:4).
As with many of my blogs, I’m writing these words to my own heart as much as to yours. I need to be reminded that we can embrace joy—even in the midst of our suffering.
This coming year, may each of us embrace the joy that—like manna—the Lord has graciously provided for us each day.
Amen.
