Pure Joy?

James 1:2-4 The Message
2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

The NIV starts the above verses with the words Consider it pure joy . . ." By human standards, we do not consider trials of life to be joyful experience. But most gifts are considered an enjoyment to receive. James is writing to the twelve tribes that had been scattered throughout all the nations. Jewish believers had faced persecution in Jerusalem and were now scattered. They were still facing difficulties or trials for their faith. The Greek word used for "trials" (NIV) or "temptations" (KJV) means "testing" in the sense of a young bird testing its wings. Testing does not mean to fail, but to fly. Our trials or testings are not meant to make us stumble but to stand up. Tests are a measure of achievement. God's testing is to strengthen us, not to defeat us. A perfect example of this would be the story of Abraham offering up his son, Isaac in Genesis 22. When Abraham raised his knife to kill his son on the altar, God said, "Stop! I just wanted to see if you would withhold your son from me. I was testing you." According to James, our testings come in many different ways. How we handle our trials reveals the quality and depth of our faith. Our faith is tested everyday. Sometimes in very big ways such as a terminal illness or more often in little things such as an unkind word that is spoken to us. How we respond to either reveals the kind of faith we are living. Our joy is not in the test but in the sure knowledge that God believes in us enough to live in such a way that we will glorify Him. God is with us and wants us to live successful lives.