Is there joy in trials?

As things progress into the year 2025 it seems I hear daily about people in the faith enduring trials of various kinds. Recently even those not in the faith alongside those who are have been affected by the cuts in government. Someone close to me had the incredibly hard duty to inform several people she worked with that they no longer had a job. Sadly most people do not realize that these cuts will have a domino effect on other jobs so this is just the beginning. Trials it seems are everywhere now, or at least more noticeable than ever before.

Of course some in the faith, (it seems usually those not going through trials at the time) point to a specific verse when they hear you are going through one:

James 1:2-4 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 its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

While in itself it contains words of wisdom that we need to acknowledge and follow, plus a deep hope of being perfected we don’t always feel the joy. The reality for many is that it is very hard to feel joy in trials. Nobody likes getting stripped down through loss or persecution, at least at first. The joy you feel as a Christian may not be the same as when you get a gift or a blessing but James is trying to convince you of that idea for good reason.

Some months ago I watched a movie about the Turkish DAG. The special forces of that country. It followed them protecting a journalist that was Turkish but against the Turkish government. The commanding officer told his troops that they must still protect her as being part of the country they love and sacrifice for. At the climax of the movie, against orders, they decided to protect a village of Turks against the Iraq military who was persecuting and killing them during the Gulf War. Some of them died while others protected the people against overwhelming odds. All of them were united in serving their God, Country and people. That loyalty surfaced several times in the movie. They were willing to endure trials and sacrifice to serve the things they were devoted to. One of the back stories showed how one soldier’s private life suffered due to his higher commitments.

To actually find joy when going through trials you have to place yourself where other Christians have in the past did when going through trials. A place where you know why you are going through them and why God allows them. While a good number of Christians gave everything they had including their lives, most are not called to that purpose. Trials we have are, however, part of being Christian. They are part of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We see this in Hebrews 12:

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

The biggest joy you will ever find in trials is knowing that the primary reason for them is because you are in His family and he loves you and wants to create Himself in you through that love.

Trials may not be very joyful but the reason for them is. It may seem hard to feel it while going through it but one thing it will help us to find is how much we are willing to go through these things because we do love Him. We are also devoted to him by our calling. Like the DAG who served their country, if we serve God the right way it will be from our hearts. Willing to go through what he wants us to go through to be more like him.

Trials are not joyful themselves but you can find the right joy while going through them. Sometimes it takes a prayer or many prayers for God to strengthen you against the hurt, depression and anxiety. The joy will come knowing He is chastening you out of love and he will never forsake you no matter what.

Your Brother in Christ,

Steve Koenig