Waiting With Jesus (Copy)
The Joy of “Considering”
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” — James 1:2
The word consider is not a casual invitation. It means to think carefully, to pause long enough for truth to settle in, and to regard something as having a particular meaning or quality. As James addresses believers facing struggles of many kinds, he chooses this word intentionally.
James is calling his readers to slow down and reflect deeply on what they are experiencing: not just the circumstances around them (poverty, favoritism, internal conflicts, or the disconnect between their proclaimed faith and actions) but the work God is doing within them.
Trials are rarely comfortable, but James insists they are never meaningless. He invites believers to ponder, contemplate, and sit with the reality that God’s promises remain true even when life feels unstable. To consider is to let God’s perspective reshape our own.
James isn’t introducing a new idea. He is echoing the teaching of Jesus. In Mark 10:29–30, when Peter says, “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” Jesus responds with both assurance and honesty. He promises abundant spiritual family and blessing, but He also includes a word many of us would prefer to skip: persecution.
For those of you serving in corners of the world far from home, this "giving up everything" is more than a metaphor; it is your daily reality. Whether your trials are the visible pressures of the mission field or the quiet, internal exhaustion of the soul, Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship. He told His followers what to expect. The question was never if trials would come, but when. And yet, He framed those hardships within the larger story of God’s faithfulness.
James is reminding his readers, and us, of that same truth. Following Christ brings both blessing and difficulty, but neither is random. Both are part of the journey of becoming like Him.
If trials are guaranteed, where does joy enter the picture?
Joy is not found in the trial itself. Joy is found in the One who walks with us through it. James points us back to Jesus, our Rabbi and example. Hebrews tells us that “for the joy set before Him, He endured…” Jesus faced suffering with His eyes fixed on the joy beyond it: the joy of redeeming us, restoring us, and fulfilling the Father’s will.
Joy is not the absence of hardship. Joy is the presence of Christ.
When James says consider it joy, he is inviting us to adopt Jesus’ posture: to look beyond the immediate struggle and see the faithful God who is shaping us, strengthening us, and preparing us for what He has promised.
What trial are you facing right now?
How might God be using it to deepen your faith or refine your character?
Where do you see, even faintly, the joy set before you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you consider your situation through the lens of God’s promises rather than the weight of your circumstances.
Lord, teach me to consider my trials through Your eyes. Help me slow down, reflect, and remember that You are at work even when life feels heavy. Give me the courage to trust Your promises and the grace to find joy in Your presence. Shape my heart to look like Jesus, who endured with joy because He knew the Father’s faithfulness. Amen.
Your MissioCare Collective Team