“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” – James 1:2 (KJV)
The phrase “count it all joy” is a radical invitation. James doesn’t say to feel joy or pretend to be happy when trials come. He says to count it joy — to make a deliberate, faith-filled decision to see our hardships through the lens of God’s greater purpose.
Joy in trouble doesn’t mean denying pain. It means anchoring our hearts in the truth that God is at work even in the storm. Trials refine us, stretch us, and draw us closer to the heart of Christ. They reveal what we truly believe and where our hope lies.
Cultivating joy in times of trouble begins with perspective. When we remember that God is Sovereign, that He wastes nothing, and that every trial is an opportunity for growth, we can choose joy — not because of the pain, but because of the promise.
Joy is not the absence of hardship; it is the presence of God in the midst of it. Develop the mind of Christ to succeed in your trials.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me in every season — in joy and in sorrow, in peace and in trial. Teach me to count it all joy when I face difficulties, not because they are easy, but because You are faithful. Help me to see beyond the moment and trust in the work You are doing in me. Fill my heart with Your peace, and let joy rise from the deep well of Your Spirit within me. Strengthen me to endure, and let my life be a testimony of Your goodness, even in the valley. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 1:6-7
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 26:23-28; Proverbs 27:1-4; Hebrews 5:11-14; Hebrews 6:1-12; Ezekiel 4; Ezekiel 5; Ezekiel 6