Right now these are the hardest words for me in the whole Bible:

Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so tht you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

How can the real, painful, trials of life ever be joy? It's completely counter cultural. But here's what I've learnt:

• Firstly, we're not talking here about the kind of joy that shouts out "whooppee, another trial. BRING IT ON!" That's just stupid. And Jesus taught us to pray "lead us not into temptation" which could also be translated (and perhaps better is) "lead us not into times of testing." In other words, only the fool looks for trouble. So, if the joy doesn't come from the circumstance itself, where does it come from?
• It comes, secondly, from the result of the trials. James is clear. "The testing of your faith produces perseverance." Ultimately, the trials we are enduring will make us mature and complete – in other words they are part of our sanctification, making us like Christ. Think of them like this and you can begin to think about them in joyful ways.
• Thirdly, there is help in James for those who struggle to see joy in tough times. It comes in verse 5. it may seem like I'm stating the obvious but verse 5 comes after verse 4 and there is therefore a pretty good chance the two are linked. Verse 5 is often proof-texted as a kind of poster text. But in the context it must be about asking for the wisdom that is required to see our trials as joy because of the ultimate fruit they produce.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

 So, in my sometime-joylessness, I have been praying for wisdom to the one who gives generously to all.