TODAY IN THE WORD
Death Valley, California, is one of the hottest, most barren places on earth; it averages less than two inches of rain per year. In the spring of 2005, a once-in-a-lifetime event happened—six inches of rain fell! The result was astonishing. Colorful wildflowers—pink, purple, orange, white, blue, and golden—bloomed in the desert. Where there had been only sand, salt flats, and black basalt mountainsides, there sprang up a kaleidoscopic rush of blossoms. These flowers’ seeds have coatings so thick they can lie dormant for decades, waiting patiently for enough moisture to grow. When they do, for a few months Death Valley becomes a showcase for the beauty of God’s creation.

What a striking picture of today’s reading! Christians who “consider it pure joy” in the midst of trials and sufferings are, from the world’s perspective, as unexpected as flowers in the desert. James’s instructions go against all reason and emotion.

How and why are we supposed to do this? To “consider” or “count” (ESV) is like putting a label on something. We’re not being told to fake a feeling, but rather to rejoice in the results of a spiritual process. As with yesterday’s reading, when Christ endured the cross for “the joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2), we are to count trials as “pure joy”—uncorrupted by cynicism or doubt—because testing develops perseverance and perseverance leads to maturity (vv. 3–4). The experience doesn’t feel pleasant, and it might even involve shame and suffering, but the spiritual outcome can transcend the feelings and inspire present joy.

In this reading, James has two other pieces of advice for getting through trials. One is to ask God for wisdom (v. 5). Wisdom is practical knowledge about how to live in godly ways, especially under difficult circumstances. The other is to “believe and not doubt” (v. 6). Affirming what we know to be true about God is faith, a rock that cannot be moved by any storm of life.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you undergoing trials and suffering? It need not be as dramatic as the persecution recounted at the beginning of the devotion two days ago. It might be a neighbor who spreads the word to stay away from the “crazy religious person” next door. It might be malicious workplace gossip prompted by resentment of your integrity. It might be a child who is straying from the Lord. To be able to consider such things “pure joy” goes against our grain and requires complete dependence on the Lord.

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