Jas 1:2-4

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance.But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything.”

Is it possible to have joy while dealing with a grievous, debilitating, and painful illness? Either physical or mental/emotional? Can you experience joy while grieving a loss?

Jas 1:2 says we can!

How do we find joy in trials? Two ways. 1) It is a testament to your faith, and 2) It builds endurance.

Let’s say your body is shaking with constant dyskinesia. It tries to consume your whole being. But while you are enduring it, can you enjoy watching the antics of a little kitten? Can you enjoy the companionship of a loved one?

Yes! You can be miserable and at the same time experience these joys.

It is like two compartments in your brain. One is misery and the other is joy. They can both exist simultaneously. It’s your choice which one to focus on. Some days it is a minute by minute battle as to which we focus on. But, fight and pray to focus on the joy compartment.

If you wonder how to do that when your body and mind revolt, try one or two simple cues: breathe a short prayer (“Jehovah, give me power beyond what is normal”) and then name one thing you can see or hear that is good, however small—a shaft of light, a kind voice, a warm mug. Also, give yourself permission to name your grief and your gratitude in the same breath. Joy grows in that honest space.

Consider point 1) It is a testament to your faith.

By enduring your misery, you are like Job, proving Satan is a liar and you are maintaining your faith in spite of the trials. That is a cause for joy!

Additionally, others see your struggle and how you continue on in faithful service in whatever capacity that may be, perhaps just keeping spirituality alive even if you are limited from any activity. This is a cause for encouragement for those that see us. You are accomplishing a vital work in spite of the trial. This also is a cause for great joy. And even if no one sees, Jehovah does; your value to him does not depend on output.

What about point 2) It builds endurance.

Iron does not become steel until it is heated in the forge. The iron must pass through the crucible of fire to gain its strength.

A bodybuilder does not become fit until strenuous, consistent, painful exercise.

Without trials, how will you know what you are made of? As the scripture says, “tested quality of your faith produces endurance”. We are in a marathon race. It takes endurance to make it to the reward. Trials give us that endurance. And faithfully enduring for however long it takes, decades, makes us “complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything.”

Trials can be framed as a blessing, not a curse. Trials themselves are not good, but the fruit they produce is. We need them to test our mettle and see what we are made of so that we can face whatever Satan throws at us with Jehovah’s help. It makes us strong.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.” — 1Pe 5:6

So don’t despair over trials, even if lengthy and miserable. Each day we persevere is just that much more treasure in heaven.

And, most importantly, we don’t face these trials without help. Jehovah knows how much we can endure and gives us “power beyond what is normal”.

“But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you.” — 1Pe 5:10

So, if we are going to be miserable, let’s be joyful at the same time and focus on that. In fact:

“Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake.Rejoice and be overjoyed,since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you” — Matt 5:11.12