May 27, 2026
Wednesday, May 27
In James 1:2-12, we’re told to rejoice, pray, and hope when life gets difficult. The first of those—rejoicing in suffering—is the hardest for us, so we’ll spend a couple more days on it. Yesterday, we explored the reason James gives for rejoicing at painful circumstances—because it produces grit, that helps us become more like Jesus. But believe it or not, there are many other reasons for joy in times of pain:
1) God will make it up to us. When others ridicule us or even persecute us for our faith in Jesus, Matthew 5:11-12 says we should rejoice because “Great is your reward in Heaven.” But in Mark 10:29-30, Jesus promised His disciples that any sacrifice they made for Him down here would be repaid hundredfold “in this time,” meaning they wouldn’t have to wait until Heaven to receive their rewards. But how would they be repaid hundredfold for the loss of family connections that came with pursuing Christ? Through His new family, the Church. A disciple who was rejected by his parents and siblings for following Jesus would someday find he had countless mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles in Christ. That is how God is; He leaves no sacrifice unrewarded.
2) God will use it. As I look back on my own walk with God, nearly every significant leap forward in spiritual growth came out of some painful circumstance. I don’t think God wants it to be that way. I think He would love it if I pursued Him with all my heart, all the time. But good times tend to make me complacent about my spiritual life. When the hard times hit, I come running back, and I get close enough to Him to actually hear His voice again. Just for one example, I heard God call me into ministry during one of the longest low points in my life. If things had been going great, I wonder if I even would have known God was sending me this direction.
3) God may perform a miracle. It sounds rather obvious, but without pain, there would be no need for miracles. When we struggle, we can rejoice in the thought of how amazing it would be if God’s power came down for all the world to see. It is good and right for us to pray that way. When it doesn’t happen, God is still good. But oh, when it does…
“Almighty God, you are always good. Teach me to hope in your miracle-working power, and to rejoice even when your answer is ‘no,” knowing that someday, we’ll see that your way was best. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
