The Rejoicing: From Grief To Joy

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4)

In the beginning, after Adam and Eve went against God and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God pronounced a curse against the serpent, the woman, the man, and the ground (Genesis 3). Ever since then mankind has suffered under the weight of our guilt and the consequences of sin. Every time a woman suffers the pains of childbirth, she experiences the pain of the curse. But once the baby has been delivered alive, the pain is turned into joy.

Jesus made reference to this when preparing His disciples for His death on the cross. The more He told them He was going away, the more they began to sorrow. Jesus told them that in a little while they will not see Him, and they would grieve; but then their grief would be turned into joy (John 16). They did not understand all this until after His death, burial, and resurrection. And then—they did rejoice! (Luke 24:33–53)

Years later Peter was able to write with confidence that we will be distressed by various trials, “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6–7). James agreed with Peter and wrote, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2–3).

James continues by saying that a believer is blessed when he perseveres under trial, because when he has passed the test of this life, he will receive eternal life (James 1:12). And that is the point of all this suffering that we go through as Christians. Once again, read what Peter had learned, and is teaching us today: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:12–13).