“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy” (James 1:2)

Trials…joy.

Hmmm.

Consider trials nothing but joy?

Hmmm.

Either the writer has a different understanding of trials or a different understanding of joy than the typical American.

Joy doesn’t mean only a happy feeling. It certainly can include feeling happy but it means so much more. Joy has to do with a change in reality and understanding. The key word in our verse is “consider.” The Greek word is hegeomai. The word literally means “to lead the way,” “to think,” “to consider.” What this verb means is to lead the way by thinking this way; or, in other words, consider.

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, lead the way by thinking and considering trials as nothing but joy.”

• Even though trials don’t feel good, even though you don’t feel like it, even though it hurts, even though it is difficult…lead the way by thinking and considering trials as nothing but joy.
• This isn’t about what one feels. This is about a deliberate act and a decision. It’s about choosing to see trials as joy.

James tells us in the verses that follow the reason why we are to consider trials as nothing but joy. “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, lead the way by thinking and considering trials as nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Consider trials as nothing but joy because of the fruit suffering and overcoming trials produces: maturity, being complete, lacking in nothing.

This is not joy because there is no suffering and trials. This is a joy in spite of the suffering and trials because of what God is doing in us through them.

God is not asking us to enjoy or feel good when enduring trials. God is asking us to choose to be joyful because we know that God is at work in us to mature and perfect us so that we are lacking in nothing. That is good work. That’s worth rejoicing about!

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Saw a bumper sticker that said, “2020…you suck!”

Americans are down. Americans are unhappy. In fact, a recent General Social Survey shows that just 14 percent of American adults say they are happy, down from 31 percent who said the same two years ago. That year, 23 percent said they had often or sometimes felt isolated in recent weeks. Now 50 percent say that.

In total, fewer Americans are likely to call themselves happy than at any point since the survey begun in 1972.

According to a new report by the American Psychological Association, more than 70 percent of Americans say this is the lowest point in US history.

Just typing this makes me depressed!

We need joy!

The biggest realization about joy is that joy is very different than happiness. Happiness often times accompanies joy, but joy is so much deeper and resilient than happiness.

• Happiness is something that we experience as a result of good things happening to us
• Happiness depends on happenstance. When good things happen, we are happy. When bad stuff happens, we are unhappy
• Our happiness is at the mercy of the world around us

Joy is not like that at all. Joy is content, reality, and truth driven.

• Joy has to do with a changed reality
• The text from Luke is in the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. The angel tells them that he is “bringing good news of great joy for all the people” (v10)
• And then in the next verse, the angel reveals the content and the truth of the source of great joy: “to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (v.11)

Jesus is the content, the reality, the truth that changes our reality. Jesus is the reason for joy. Joy is content driven. Joy is Jesus driven.

The birth of Jesus changes everything. Death, suffering, Covid-19, race riots, an economy on the brink of a depression, etc., none of these things changes the reality that God is with us. In Jesus, we come to the realization that we were created for eternity, that we were created for so much more than what this world can offer.

Because of Jesus, this world is the only hell we will ever experience. But without Jesus, this is the only heaven people will know.

Jesus changes everything.

Jesus is the source of our joy.

Repent and believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23)

This week we are looking at the second of the nine characteristics listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as the fruit of the Spirit: joy.

Remember, we don’t speak of the “fruits” of the Spirit. The Greek is singular – fruit of the Spirit.

The Greeks did not have an “etc” to denote that the listing of like qualities. The way they expressed “etc” is to make a list of like qualities. What this means is that there are other God-honoring, people-blessing qualities that could also be included with the nine in Galatians 5:22-23 as long as they are God-honoring, and people-blessing.

Joy. The Greek for joy is chara. Joy is closely related to both “rejoicing” (chairo) and “grace” (charis). They all share the same root.

Joy, is not only an emotion we feel as a result of having something good happen to us. Joy is a deep sense of knowing that everything has changed for the better because of God’s grace. Joy is the result of grace. Grace comes first. Joy is the result.

When someone has experienced grace, they are forever changed. When someone has experienced God’s grace, there is nothing in the created universe that can take our joy. We are reminded by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:37-38, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That is quite a comprehensive list!

When we have experienced God’s unconditional love, a love which no one is deserving of, that’s called grace. And because we are the recipients of grace, joy is our result.

Look forward to getting to know “joy” better with you this week!