Joy and Trials Don't Mix, Do They?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith 
produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

This has been a year of trials for me.  Trials I didn't want.  Trials I'm sure I asked for, and trials I didn't even see coming.  Joy was not a part of any of these trials.  Is it ever?  There were times, in fact, during a trial I said to God, "I don't want this."  I'm sure I disappointed Him because I know I've disappointed myself looking back on this year of trials and how I handled them.

I did not handle the many trials I had over the past year with grace, appreciation, and certainly not with joy.  I fought them.  I resented them, and I gave up many times.  My faith faltered.  My relationship with God was shaky, and I began to hate who I was.  I have often thought about how (King) David felt running from his trials and hiding in caves.  He certainly wrote some of the most emotional and beautiful psalms during his time of trials.  He wasn't joy-filled about the trials, but he remained joy-filled towards the Lord and Who God is.  I wish I could say the same.

God is not going to stop believing in us.  He's not going to stop loving us, and because of these two things, He is not going to stop testing us.  He doesn't want to see us suffer, but He wants us to see Him in our suffering.  As long as sin is a part of this world, there will be suffering and trials of many kinds.  God wants us to see Him through the suffering and by seeing Him, we can experience pure joy and perseverance.  By doing so, we will become complete and mature, not lacking anything.  Joy and trials don't mix, but a faithful child of God will find joy in the midst of a trial.  Help us, O Lord, to find You and in doing so, joy, in every trial we're facing. Amen.