Joy in Pain Leads to Great Gain
Written by Kevin Williams (Elder of Fellowship Memphis)
Back in the ’80s, there was a slogan that often resonated with the machismo of young aspiring athletes….” No Pain, No Gain”. It certainly could be a harmful thought if over-applied, but nevertheless was a motivating rally cry for my football team. In its best light, the message was a call to place greater value on the end result of our efforts than on the immediate discomfort of the work that was required that day.
To be more direct, beyond the ordinary challenge of the college experience, we pumped iron and had numerous early morning conditioning sessions while the rest of the dormitory was still sleeping.
We also had to sweat through the lunacy of 3-a-day practices in the Memphis heat, all for the hope of being bigger, faster, stronger, and more capable than all of our opponents on the field.
The silly but effective slogan was a reminder of our quest for victory and a motivator to continue despite the hardship of the painful process selected by our coaches, even when we didn’t have any assurance that the on-the-field success would be the outcome.
In chapter 1, verses 1-18, James reminds us that as Christians, we are living out a process that many times will be painful too, but he also adds that we have the assurance that the result will be glorious for those who endure well and love the Lord.
More specifically, those who navigate these trials with a positive mindset and a perspective rooted in deep faith will receive the “crown of life”. We also will gain a deeper relationship with God by shaping our walk forward with the wisdom and character forged by the process.
So, how do we gain such a special reward from God? Simply put, it’s our choice.
We have the liberty to select our response to the trials we experience. James says to choose joy as the reaction to our trials. Why? Because the result will be a change in our character to one better equipped to persevere.
Furthermore, according to James’ inspired work, this process of growing joyfully will make us mature and complete (vs. 4), two characteristics that I certainly want in full measure and would assume you do as well. Other translations of this verse use another desirable superlative adjective, perfect, which could be defined as a state in which our actions consistently align with our beliefs.
Wouldn’t that be a grand blessing as we navigate this broken world! Despite what we might expect using our human logic, this blessing is one that comes to us as a result of our times of hardship. What a paradox to gain a state of behaving in accord with our belief in Jesus, not in spite of but because of our sufferings.
Even so, just how can we make this seemingly contrarian choice to experience our suffering joyfully? For me, this must be grounded in our faith in God and His promises.
As a foundation, we must first choose to believe that God is good, always good, even when we are suffering and praying for relief. James affirms this character trait of God in stating that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and He does not tempt us, and He does not change.
Likewise, the writer of Hebrews reminds us in chapter 12 that God disciplines us because He loves us and so that we can share in His holiness. So, the trials we experience are part of a process rooted in God’s goodness and His love for us, which is truly a reason for joy.
Actively seeking to learn about God’s character is a critical component of our gaining “wisdom” which per James is given freely to those who ask for it.
Beyond seeking through diligent study of God’s word, such wisdom is nurtured as one forms an unwavering conviction of God’s goodness and a mindset that always trusts that good will come as a byproduct of persevering trials.
We find wisdom as we submit to God’s will for our lives and rest in the assurance that Paul writes about in Romans 8:28, that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. This is not to say that as Christ-followers, we are promised an absence of trouble, but instead are commanded to endure the trouble that will certainly come with an attitude firmly entrenched in faith in a loving God.
In Proverbs 3, wisdom is described in this way, “Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace”. That peace isn’t the absence of suffering but the joyful state we rest within upon our complete surrender to an Almighty and Sovereign God who loves us and is working for good, always.
I believe this is the secret Paul refers to in his letter to the Philippians, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4: 12-13, NIV).
Consider the choice of heart posture reflected in the words of the 27th Psalm by King David who we know to have faced many trials. “I will remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14, NIV).
Like David, we can choose joy in trial and wait for the Lord, as the pain of our present circumstance pales in comparison to the reward coming to those who persevere and the peace flowing from the wisdom we obtain in the process.
There is tremendous gain to consider when contemplating our attitude toward the pain we experience in our Christian walk. We can gain immeasurable peace that comes from a deeper and more complete reliance on our God, whatever our circumstance.
Yet, unlike the juvenile logic used to press on through physical hardship forced by a football coach, we have this as a promise of God: We know with certainty that our trials change us for the better because God is good, and He loves us.
Furthermore, and as an overwhelming evidence of His love, Jesus calls us to come to Him for eternal salvation and relief from suffering. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30).
This is the ultimate reward and reason for great joy!
