Joy in the Valley??

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
What?? I'm supposed to find joy when I'm going through hard times? How is that even possible? Many of us when faced with trials are so ready to throw in the towel and give up. I guess we think that if we are going through a valley then God must have left our side or we've done something to make him mad. I know I've thought that at times. But, in studying this passage I've come to realize God allows certain testing to come our way in order to strengthen us for what He's called us to do. Now don't get me wrong some of these trials can be pretty hard and it's easy to feel hopeless in the midst, but if we hold on to his promise.....The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 Just because we are going through a tough time doesn't mean He has left us. Even if that tough time is brought on by a bad decision on our part....He will NEVER leave you of forsake you!

Now lets take a look further into this passage...
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:5-8
Not only is God telling us ahead of time to not worry when going through trials and what those trials will do for our character, but He goes even further in saying if we lack wisdom in how to handle a situation all we have to do is ASK! Plain and simple....no since in worrying or being anxious in a trial....Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6....It's very clear that God has not called us to live a life of worry and strife. But what if you continue to worry and stress over these things? God tells us that those who ask, yet dought that he will come through are like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind....that he should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. Think about this in your own life for a minute say you have a friend who asks you to do something for them. You've agreed to help with whatever it is, but they continue to "confirm" your help. "Are you sure you can help?" or "You are going to make it.....right?" and this can really go on and on with some people. Or you go to help and they insist on doing it themselves, but then complain that they didn't have any help. It's really annoying right? Actually it kind of makes you feel like they are saying you aren't trustworthy right? Well, think how this might make God feel. It's written all in His word that if we ask according to his will we WILL receive! 1 John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. If after our request to him we continue to beg and plead and really kind of wallow in our own worries.....we are actually expressing to him that he's not big enough for what we're going through.

Take joy in trials???....If you never face any trial or struggle in your walk with Christ...then more than likely you're headed in the wrong direction. He never said our walk would be easy and the word tells us that we will be faced with persecution in knowing him, but we hold tight to his promises. So, yes....hold your joy for the Lord through persecution because you know you'll be stronger on the other side.