Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds (James 1:2, ESV)

James interestingly enough does not say “Be joyful” when you meet hardships. He knows that hardships are not pleasant; he knows that hardships can cause great sadness. The psalms, the great songbook of our faith, reflect the great depths of emotion that a person can have in serving God. But what James tells us is how to think, not how to feel.

Hardship and trial comes, and James wants us to have a certain attitude when the testing arrives. Because trials and tests, in whatever shape they may take, naturally imperil our persistence in faith. Our attitudes are critical to how we come out on the other side of the trial. He wants us to seek out a contentment in every situation, to pursue a “deep, steady, and unadulterated thankful trust” in God.

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:3-4 ESV)

James explains his command to “count it all joy” by pointing out the purpose behind the trials and tests: they lead to endurance (steadfastness), and then endurance leads to maturity and perfection. This is no easy task; it seems downright impossible when we consider that Jesus said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). However, God designs testing to result in our “long obedience in the same direction” (to borrow from Eugene Peterson’s book). We face tests that prove us, that refine us as silver and gold are refined, that purify our faith. Our Christian character is rounded out incrementally and through continual striving — in the tests we are given.

James tells us to have a lifestyle marked by increasing maturity. Increasing maturity draws us closer to God. And that is why we can think about joy during a test: we see the benefit in a more mature life, a purer faith, following Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2).