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. (James 1:2-4)

Finding Joy In Trials

Vance Havner points out that sometimes the medicine bottle has on it, “Shake well before using.” He points out that God sometimes must do this with His people to awaken them from their apathy. The Lord has to shake His people well before they are usable. Moses thought he was the Lord’s deliverer of His oppressed people when he killed the Egyptian. For forty years, Moses had lived as a prince of Egypt. After killing the Egyptian, he fled to Midian, where he remained for another forty years.

While Moses was a prince of Egypt, he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds. His pride made him unsuitable to be the leader of the Hebrews. It would take forty years to change Moses’ heart. When God appeared to Moses at the burning bush, Moses was nothing like he was as a prince of Egypt. He was self-deprecating in his abilities to lead the people of Israel. History shows Moses as one of the greatest men of God’s divine plan, but it took the Lord shaking up the world of Moses to find His man.

The apostle Peter was an impetuous man who often did not think before he spoke. There were times of brilliance in Peter’s reaction to Jesus and His teaching, but he was not yet formed in the spirit of man needed to take the gospel into the world. Jesus was patient with Peter. When the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper, He told Peter that Satan was desirous of the heart of Simon. Jesus knew Peter would betray Him three times before the rooster crowed, and He told His apostle when he returned to Him to strengthen his brethren. Peter had to go through the crucifix of fire to become the great proclaimer of the gospel Luke writes about in the Acts of the Apostles.

God continues to work in the lives of His children. Sometimes, He has to shake up their lives to move them from their indifference. The trials of life can be viewed in a positive understanding of how they mold the character to be filled with faith. There is a need for endurance to develop the strength of character to face disappointment with the firm conviction God is in control. Through the process of trials, hope leads to joy, and joy to life everlasting. It is realizing that when life is shaken, it can be used to make life better. A father may allow his child to struggle to help form character in him, and God will allow His children to suffer to help them learn the lessons of patience, diligence, endurance, and hope.