Joy in the Midst of Suffering

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. (James 1:2-4)

Joy is not a natural response to suffering. It does not come easily or effortlessly. It is one of those things that we have to decide to pursue.

In the midst of suffering, it's very tempting to fall prey to a full-blown pity party. It's easy for me to become discouraged because of my circumstance or because God seems silent at the time. Right now, I'm in the middle of a trial that I can't do anything about. I have to remain still and silent, waiting on God to act.

Although I can't change or control this circumstance, however, I can control my attitude. I can choose joy. I can see this suffering as "an opportunity for joy"--the NIV calls it "pure joy". Regardless of whether or not my circumstance changes today, regardless of whether or not I feel God's presence or receive the answers that I'm longing for, I can choose to be joyful.

Being joyful right now doesn't mean that I ignore my trial or try to forget about it. On the contrary, I can be joyful in remember how God has come through for me in the past, and that encourages me that He will come through for me now.

I am trying to have a more thankful attitude. It's easy to thank God when things are going well; but I think that it's when I go through trials that my gratitude moves to a higher level. I thank Him for what He has done and what He is doing and going to do, even though I can't fully see what He's doing. I thank Him for the good times and trust Him to sustain me in this bad time.

Focusing on being thankful not only reminds me of how God continually blesses me, but it keeps me from staying discouraged. Right now I'm rejoicing in the fact that God is using this trial to draw me closer to Him and reveal more of Himself to me. It definitely makes this time a lot more bearable.