"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"-James 1:2

How do we react to adversity? For most, this question brings to mind times when we don't catch breaks in life, we didn't get along with someone, or our feelings are hurt. However, in Bible terms, adversity or trials are times when we are tested. That can be persecutions, temptations, or troubling circumstances like death and sickness that assail our faith. The Bible has some quite revolutionary things to say on the topic of trials and suffering-some ideas that warrant more than a surface consideration. Let us consider some divine thoughts on trials.

The most amazing thing taught about trials in Scripture is that trials have beneficial effects. This at once seems strange and wrong, since our world tells us that if bad things are happening in our lives, we are to be sad, frustrated, and downtrodden. Yet while God acknowledges that "no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful"(Heb 12:11), He reminds us again and again that good comes of this testing. Rather than being miserable, James tells us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing"(James 1:2-4). Without trials, we may never develop the patience we need so that our character can be complete. Paul says that we can "glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character hope"(Rom 5:3-4). Until we know the gut-wrenching sorrow of life, we cannot truly appreciate the hope we have of a life without sorrow. This may seem like trying to see the glass as half-full, but we must all acknowledge that a life lived with all pleasures and happiness lacks the depth negative experiences bring. We must submit our thinking to God's in time of sorrow. He knows what is best for us and urges us to "count it all joy" rather than dread suffering because it is good for us.

Another good thing about trials is that they prove our faith. Although we may really think we believe, certainty comes only when we are tested. Peter told the pilgrims to rejoice in spite of "various trials" because "the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory"(1 Pet 1:6-7). The metaphor of testing gold is used to describe our faith in times of trial. Just as in gold, our faith is heated up by fire and tested to its breaking point. The impurities of the gold (and our souls) rise to the top and are taken away. What is left is pure and genuine. It is in this way that persecutions show us how deeply we believe, temptations gauge our faithfulness to God's commands, and dealing with death demonstrates our true belief in resurrection of the dead. Without trials, how would we know how much we believe? Jesus tells us the same in the parable of the wise and foolish man and their houses. He says that "the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house"(Mt 7:25). The question is not whether the rains will come but rather what it will reveal about our lives. Will we be too concerned about what's happening to us or will we rejoice that our faith is proved genuine?

Trials also remind us who our Father is. The Hebrew writer chides his audience because they had "forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord'"(Heb 12:5). Trials are a way of God disciplining His children, just as a parent. The punishment does not seem pleasant now (v. 11), but is vital to remind us of our Father. "But if you are without chastening…then you are illegitimate and not sons"(Heb 12:8). Trials prove there is someone up there concerned about our character, letting our faith be tested, and trying to turn us toward Him.

The key in this is how we react to trials. Will we "count it all joy" or will we resent God for allowing such things to happen? Will our view be shallow and worldly or divine? Let us permit God to work in our lives, even through trials. Let us pass the test of faith. Let us "be trained"(Heb 12:11) by our Father's chastening. Let us count it all joy.___Jacob Hudgins