Finding joy in trials

There does not seem to be very many days that are trial free, there are no days that are pain-free, trials seem to sneak into our lives, and can screw up our days. No one wakes up thinking bring on the trials, I’m ready!

My trials seem insignificant in comparison to so many, I’ve seen death, unemployment, failed relationships, bankruptcy, uncurable sickness, and abuse, in my life and with family and friends.
Finding joy amidst these trials is often the last emotion we expect, and sometimes never find.

When we come to recognize and understand that God is over and in these trials, it becomes easier to press on for we know God will see us through, and these trials serve to test or prove our character, faith, holiness and trust in God, they give us a different perspective to the “why me?” question.

Through trials in my life, I have learned to be steadfast, and trust God always, I realize that there is still joy every day knowing that in Christ I can and will endure and that my character will reflect Jesus more than it did before the trial if I walk in obedience with Him.

Ultimately, no matter the circumstance, we are told to continue to reflect the joy of Christ.

My prayer is that no matter how big or small a trial comes across our path, we would seek comfort in Jesus alone and reflect the joy He alone can give.

God’s word says this:

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.”Proverbs‬ ‭18:10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.” 1 Peter‬ ‭1:3-9, 13-19‬ ‭CSB‬‬​

“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”Philippians‬ ‭3:7-21‬ ‭CSB‬‬