When Things Don't Go Our Way
DEVOTIONS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS
When Things Don’t Go Our Way
2023 rolled in last month, and let me tell you: I. Was. Ready. The past year had been extremely difficult, and I longed for a fresh, productive start.
The first two days of January dawned sunny and unseasonably warm. Yeeesss! That’s what I'm talking about! I piled firewood, cleared some brush in the yard, rode my bike, cleaned the garage, got some computer work done... This year was going perfectly!
Then came January 3rd. I woke up in misery. Cold rain pelted the bedroom windows. A horrific case of poison ivy was developing on my arms. I felt strangely ill and could barely move. Feverish. Aching. Itchy. Exhausted. A few hours later, I tested positive for COVID-19.
A brand new year, and a brand new set of problems.
In the grand scheme, I know getting sick and dealing with an itchy rash for a few weeks isn’t a huge issue – but it was disappointing. My mom has been battling cancer for the past year. That’s a much bigger struggle. Problems and disappointments come in all sizes.
It’s interesting how we go through life praying that we won’t face difficulties. But when we look at some of the heroes of the Bible – Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, Paul, Jesus and others – we see that adversity was a huge part of their life story. James puts it simply: Christians should expect problems (James 1:2).
We live in a fallen world, so we know we’ll experience difficulties and disappointments. But here’s the most intriguing part: In the same verse, James says that when trouble comes our way, we should “consider it an opportunity for great joy.” No, that’s not a typo, but it sure seems like it, right? To be clear, this verse doesn’t mean we should be giving high-fives if our house burns down. And we shouldn’t ask God to send problems to increase our joy. However, difficult situations can be "an opportunity for joy" because God says there’s purpose in our pain.
Finding joy in hard times might not sound so appealing—or even logical—so let’s dig a little deeper.
A Challenge
I mentioned earlier that 2022 was a very difficult year for our family. Some of our best friends and relatives also dealt with serious health issues and loss of loved ones. I’ll be honest, it was hard to feel joyful last year. The ongoing adversities not only affected us personally, but they affected our ability to focus on the ministry.
Our natural response to these difficult seasons is often just… “Why?” If God is in control of everything, why does He allow so many trials in our lives? Problems that even disrupt our plans to serve Him! Although there are many possible answers, we should start by shifting our focus from “Why?” to “What?” That is, what is God trying to teach us through these experiences?
The very next verse gives us one answer, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (James 1:3). Paul echoes these words in Romans 5:3, “We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”
This is the biblical version of every meme that says, “Tough times build good character.” We can’t always control what happens to us, but no one comes out of adversity unchanged. It’s easy to praise God after a big promotion at work, but how about when everything seems to be falling apart, when God seems silent, when our dreams are shattered, or when our hearts are broken? Difficulties in life are a challenge for us to trust in God’s faithfulness.
No Pain, No Gain
My wife and I tried a new fitness app last week. I like to think I’m in decent shape, but these new exercises tested me way more than I want to admit! Our faith is like a muscle. It gets stronger when it’s stressed. We may not always look forward to a workout, but it’s gratifying to know that the pain we endure results in a stronger, healthier body.
James 1:4 says, “So let [your faith] grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Have you ever watched an athlete who remains calm and decisive — even in the most critical moments of the biggest games? You can be sure that person is not new to the sport. Becoming a seasoned pro isn’t an easy road. You only reach that level by training hard and enduring the ups-and-downs of the sport for many years.
In the same way, Christians who are best able to weather a major crisis in life are the ones who have faced adversity. They’ve been challenged, and have developed an elite level of endurance. They know the Lord can bring them through the storm again. When our confidence in the Lord is unwavering in the storms of life, we can face any situation with positive, determined hope.
Still struggling?
Even with an understanding that God uses difficult situations to build endurance, it may not be easy to feel “joyful” about the prospect. James probably anticipated that reaction when he offered reassurance in the next verse: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” (James 1:5).
In other words, pray! With our eyes opened through prayer, we can see God resolving difficulties and working circumstances together for good (Romans 8:28). We can see areas of our spiritual character that God is working on… or sin that He may want us to confront… or people we can connect with for mutual comfort. We may never know all the exact reasons for our problems (Isaiah 55:9), but if we ask in faith, God will provide spiritual insight, wisdom, and understanding.
Even on the worst days, we can cling to the promise that we’ll be rewarded for our endurance. James 1:12 says “God blesses those who patiently endure testing.” And the writer of Hebrews reminds us to “persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36). In the end, there will be no more death, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
In the meantime, God leverages our difficult experiences to transform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), to make us more fruitful (John 15:1-3), and to assist in His healing of others (2 Corinthians 1:4).
Remember, Jesus fulfilled the words of James 1:2 before they were even written. He took on the greatest trial of all with a mindset of joy. “Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).” Even when we think things aren’t going our way, God’s Will is being done, and for that we can rejoice!
- Ron Reid