Doesn’t this sound like the craziest advice? Our natural inclination when trouble shows up is to do anything BUT rejoice. But James is articulating the paradoxical, certainly counter-intuitive truth that our trials are actually an opportunity for great joy. Why? Because when our faith is tested in the face of challenge, our endurance grows.

Everybody wants a miracle. Nobody wants to need one. Lots of us love the idea of chiseled abs. But fewer of us are excited about the “testing” required to actually get them. But the fact is, you don’t get qualities like endurance, or patience, or resilience, or growth without having to face the challenging seasons that produce them. You get them no other way.

Reflect on the paradoxical call to rejoice in the midst of trials. Consider how God uses suffering to refine our faith and deepen our dependence on Him, ultimately producing a joy that transcends circumstances. Just as gold is purified by fire, our joy is strengthened—even polished into greater brightness—through the trials we face. Joy comes even in the face of suffering.

In moments of distress and hardship, God invites us to trust His sovereign plan and rejoice in His faithfulness. Today, embrace a perspective that looks beyond your current afflictions to the eternal joy set before you. As you persevere in faith, God is molding your character and promises to fill you with a joy that remains steadfast through every storm.

It’s crazy advice. And the finished product may not show up in an instant. But when trouble comes your way, consider it a fantastic new opportunity for great joy.